The development project will highlight the region’s marine tourism potential and local wisdom.
"We want to introduce the immense potential of Barelang, particularly its marine tourism," Transmigration Minister Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara remarked here on Wednesday.
He noted that the coastal areas and fishing villages in the region hold significant potential to be developed into a vibrant waterfront city.
The Barelang area benefits from its strategic location within the Batam Special Economic Zones (SEZ), abundant natural resources, and rich cultural heritage.
"We project this area as a new tourism destination, with breathtaking views and interesting local cultural values. We strive to create a bustling tourism center that will attract visitors to Barelang," Suryanagara affirmed.
Additionally, the Transmigration Ministry will collaborate with the Public Works Ministry and the Batam Authority (BP Batam) to integrate the development of tourism, creative industries, and modern agriculture in the region.
The Transmigration Ministry also plans to send 10 Patriot Expedition teams comprising 50 academics from various leading universities to identify economic development opportunities in the Barelang area.
“We are also exploring the idea of building a three-star hotel in the area. We have asked experts from Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) to assess the potential for marine tourism development there,” Suryanagara stated.
Through this collaboration, the Tourism Ministry aims to upskill and empower both the local residents and transmigrants to enable them to partake in developing the local tourism industry and fostering sustainable economic growth.
“We see enormous potential in transmigration areas. This development of the local tourism industry can help introduce transformation of the transmigration program to the world while improving the livelihoods of local communities,” Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana remarked.
The Transmigration Ministry plans to emulate the collaboration model in other transmigration areas across Indonesia as part of its strategy to achieve the Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision.
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Reporter: Uyu Septiyati Liman
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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