"That`s why we must make good preparations to welcome tourists. Don`t let us be overwhelmed when many tourists come," the dean of the forestry faculty at the Bogor-based Institute of Technology (IPB), Professor Bambang Hero Saharjo said here on Sunday.
He said he warmly welcomed people-based tourism training organized by the post-graduate school of eco-tourism and environmental service management study program (PS-MEJ) of the forest resource conservation and ecotourism department of the institute`s forestry faculty in cooperation with the North Maluku provincial culture and tourism office.
"We hope this kind of cooperation will not stop here but may be developed in a sustainable way," he said.
Chief of PS-MEJ Dr Ricky Avenzora meanwhile said after the participants have completed their study in the class they will have on-the-job training in the regions where tourism industry is growing well such as Bogor, Bandung, Yogyakarta and Bali.
The training is participated in by 15 people, mostly tourism operators from districts in North Maluku.
He said the training is designed to develop the participants` outlook and spirit in the development of people-based tourism in North Maluku.
"I hope that the participants of the training will be able to become initiators, motivators and tourism key players in North Maluku," he said.
(S012/A014)
Reporter: Andi Jauhari
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
