Developing regional potentials, such as finance, food, energy, industry, and tourism, is important amid increasingly stiff competition between countries.
"The tourism side of regions with beautiful landscapes must be developed," the president stated at the Inauguration of the Opening of the 2024 National Working Meeting XVI of the National Association of District Governments of Indonesia (APKASI) here on Wednesday.
Jokowi believes that Bhutan is one of the countries that can serve as a role model.
"It only takes high-value tourists and low volume. We can emulate it (the tourism management)," he remarked.
With exclusive tourism management, Bhutan can tap into tourism as a source of state income by imposing nature protection fees on tourists.
Another country applying good tourism management practices is Maldives, where 30 percent of the country's income comes from the tourism sector.
According to President Jokowi, the beaches in Indonesia are no less good than those in the Maldives and can be used for new tourism features.
"For example, it can be emulated, (such as holding) a conference on the beach," he remarked.
Furthermore, Jokowi highlighted that wildlife tourism in Africa, which offers an authentic safari experience, can also be used as an example.
"We have everything. We have komodo, people can see bulls in Banyuwangi, there are rhinoceros, there are orangutans. What is left is how regions can package them for regional income," he remarked.
One of the regions with similar potential is Maros District, South Sulawesi, in butterfly breeding.
With its unique potential, the president called on the Maros district government to develop and market it well.
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Translator: Yashinta Difa, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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