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CRUISE ship visits have not fully had a good impact on the government and the people in Raja Ampat Regency who have been preserving nature. One small example is the MV The World cruise ship visit which only contributed IDR25,000,000 to the government of Raja Ampat Regency, West Papua Province.
According to Raja Ampat Regency’s Head of Investment and One Stop Integrated Service (PTSP) Office, M Said Soltief in Waisai, said Thursday that the contribution of the MV The World ship to the local government was only IDR25,000,000.
Therefore, he said, in order for the cruise ship visit to benefit Raja Ampat, they must involve the local community, especially the tour guides who are members of the Indonesian Tour Guide Association (HPI) as the official organization of tour guides.
“We expect the MV The World cruise ship to involve HPI so that tourist activities while in Raja Ampat regency run smoothly,” he said.
Meanwhile Head of Raja Ampat Regent, Abdul Faris Umlati was shocked to hear that the contribution of the largest cruise ship that entered to enjoy the beautiful nature of Raja Ampat was only IDR25 million.
“I have not been able to report if the contribution of the MV The World cruise ship to the local government is only IDR25,000,000. But that is a reality and a problem because central regulations limit the space for local governments,” he said.
The Regent hopes that the central government gives full authority to the regional government to regulate all things about tourism with a sustainable concept so that it benefits the local community today and in the future. [antaranews/photo special]
