Indonesia has been working to improve people's well-being through participation in the tourism industry, for instance, through tourism villages and eco-tourism, the minister said, according to a statement received here on Wednesday.
"Our presence in the forum is expected to bolster Indonesia's position as a tourism destination conscience to climate change issues and other issues related to welfare and sustainable development goals," Uno added during the UNGA Sustainability Week's high-level thematic event on tourism.
Indonesia, the minister said, has become a reference in the post-pandemic tourism transformation. Indonesia has also aligned itself with regenerative tourism and efforts to reduce carbon emissions through tourism, he added.
Among the concrete policies enforced by Indonesia to achieve sustainability are carbon emission offset, planting of mangrove trees at tourist destinations, reef restoration, and activities to address waste, food loss, and food waste issues, Uno informed.
He also highlighted that the tourism village program has improved the local community's well-being while respecting local wisdom and customs.
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The policies enacted by the Indonesian government show that the tourism sector has huge potential to create more quality and sustainable jobs for the people, he stressed.
"We also need to harmonize this with the creative economy, either the products or services aspects, that can elevate Indonesia's position on its transformation to the digital economy," Uno explained.
Before the UN General Assembly, the minister stressed his determination to portray Indonesia as an adventurous as well as nature- and culture-friendly tourism destination.
The development of five super-priority tourism destinations will ensure Indonesia has more to offer than just Bali, Uno said. Indonesia has beautiful beaches and seas but also calm, sustainable, and spiritual experiences for tourists, he added.
Besides Bali and the five new tourism destinations, Uno said that Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara, will be developed as a new tourist destination.
The new capital will prioritize sustainable interconnectivity to preserve nature, including by reducing the use of fossil energy to fuel mobility to economic centers in Kalimantan, he added.
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Translator: Sinta Ambarwati, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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