According to Maluku Tourism Office Head, Achmad Jais Ely, these initiatives are part of an accelerated effort to advance the local tourism sector, which holds significant economic promise.
He made this statement in Ambon on Friday after the 2025 Maluku Provincial Tourism Development Coordination Meeting themed, “Strengthening Productive and Inclusive Economies through Local Food-Based Tourism.”
The programs focus on enhancing cultural, marine, and local culinary-based destinations, including the Pesona Meti Kei Festival, the Banda People’s Festival, and the regional branding campaign called Gempar Maluku, which is spearheaded by the PKK women’s organization.
Beyond destination development, the government is also prioritizing human capital by increasing the capacity of tourism and creative economy actors through training in business digitalization and the development of destination storytelling techniques.
Tourism promotion is also being strengthened through collaborative efforts involving local media, Maluku's global diaspora, and cross-agency coordination.
Further, the Tourism Office is working closely with the offices of Food Security, Agriculture, and Cooperatives to build a robust ecosystem for local culinary products that supports tourism growth.
Ely emphasized that through these four integrated strategies, the tourism sector is expected to become a major contributor to the region’s original local revenue (PAD).
This includes revenue from tourism-related business fees, event and destination permits, as well as digital ticketing systems for strategic tourism areas.
He affirmed that tourism growth will also drive spending on local products such as food, souvenirs, tour packages, and guide services, while digital destination systems are projected to enhance the overall visitor experience and bring greater regional economic benefits.
Maluku Deputy Governor Abdullah Vanath encouraged the Tourism Office and stakeholders to continue developing high-potential tourism products. He highlighted the importance of creating offerings—regardless of scale—that deliver meaningful impact to local communities and their surrounding environments.
According to Vanath, such initiatives will help realize Maluku’s vision of becoming a productive and economically sovereign leading tourist destination.
Based on 2024 data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), Maluku recorded approximately 402,843 tourist arrivals, including 13,098 international visitors and 389,745 domestic travelers.
These figures reflect Maluku's growing appeal as a destination and reinforce the urgency of strategic investment in its tourism potential.
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Translator: Primayanti
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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