"We hope that this (eruption) will soon end. After it ends, we can make efforts to improve (tourism) and intensify promotion in order to achieve the target that has been set for 2024," he told journalists in Jakarta on Sunday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Road to Run for Independence Day 2024 event, Uno said the post-eruption rehabilitation and promotion are expected to boost economic and tourism activities in North Sulawesi.
The minister assessed that the eruption had postponed flights from and to Manado and had affected several tourism destinations in the province, such as Bunaken Island, and Likupang, which has been designated as one of the five super priority destinations in Indonesia.
He, however, noted that the government has yet to receive the exact figure of losses in the tourism sector resulting from the eruption.
"We have received reports of the cancellation of two or three international events. This will surely lead to a decline in the occupancy rate of hotels and affect local micro, small, and medium enterprises," he pointed out.
He then expressed hope that all people and tourism stakeholders in the province would respond to the eruption-related impact carefully and stay alert over the threats posed by the eruption.
Earlier, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) stated that 1,585 people from Sitaro's Tagulandang Biaro Sub-district need an immediate evacuation following the volcano's eruption.
During the April 1-17 period, the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) recorded 1,439 deep volcanic tremors, 569 shallow volcanic tremors, six local tectonic quakes, and 167 distant tectonic quakes following an increase in Mount Ruang's volcanic activity.
On Wednesday (April 17), the PVMBG raised the alert status of the volcano from Level III to Level IV, prompting the need to clear surrounding areas from all activities.
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Translator: Martha H, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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