“Every development activity in this area must be based on caution, respect for the ecosystem, and a balance between development and preservation,” Wardhana said in her statement.
In a meeting with Southwest Papua Governor Elisa Kambu in Jakarta on Wednesday (June 4), she stressed that sustainable tourism can coexist harmoniously with ecological preservation and the sociocultural life of local communities.
Wardhana further stated that the Ministry of Tourism is closely monitoring the expansion of nickel mining in the Raja Ampat area, which is near the Raja Ampat UNESCO Global Geopark.
The mining expansion has sparked concern and warnings from both the public and environmentalists, given Raja Ampat’s critical role as one of Indonesia’s priority tourism destinations, holding multiple designations such as a National Marine Conservation Area and the World Coral Reef Center.
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“We support a comprehensive evaluation of mining permits in environmentally sensitive areas, especially those overlapping with conservation tourism zones,” she said.
The ministry is committed to promoting quality and sustainable tourism in Raja Ampat, and supports an integrated government approach that aligns tourism, environmental, energy, and mining policies.
To that end, Wardhana called for dialogue among relevant ministries and institutions to ensure all aspects of development—including sustainability—are considered.
The Ministry of Tourism, she added, is ready to provide data and policy input based on tourism planning and field experience, including the role of local communities as custodians of the area.
“We believe the future of Raja Ampat lies in the sustainability of its seas, culture, and people. That is what we must protect as best as we can,” she noted.
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Meanwhile, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has initiated an evaluation of a nickel mining site in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua, and has ordered the company involved to temporarily halt operations.
“We are temporarily halting their operations until field verification is completed,” he said at a press conference at the ministry’s office on Thursday.
According to Lahadalia, the company may resume operations only after the ministry’s verification team completes its assessment.
“We are sending a team to the field to evaluate the actual conditions. For now, all production activities are suspended until the verification is complete,” he said.
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Translator: Hreeloita Dharma Shanti, Yashinta Difa
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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