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IT HAS been more than one year since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in Indonesia (RI), and it is not yet known when it will end. This prolonged pandemic has resulted in negative national economic growth. One of the worst-hit business sectors is the tourism sector.
This tourism sector is very affected because it involves the movement of people so that when mobility is limited to reduce the pace of the pandemic, the sector also collapses.
The government through the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy continues to collaborate with various parties in an effort to find solutions so that the tourism and creative economy sector in the country will immediately rise.
“Hopefully we can finish this pandemic so that we can continue the development agenda going forward,” said Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno during a visit to Aceh.
Early May 2021, Sandiaga visited the westernmost province of Indonesia. Its mission is to raise the tourism sector in Cleanliness, Health, Safety and Environmental Sustainability (CHSE) packaging for tourist destinations, hotels and restaurants as well as souvenir centers that support tourism.
Sandiaga also helped to sharpen the investment plan of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) worth US$500 million to US$1 billion for the tourism sector in Aceh Singkil, as well as to find out plans to develop tourist spots in Banda Aceh, Aceh Besar and Sabang.
“Our plan is very concrete, very real, that what is in front of our eyes is the United Arab Emirates and of course this is holistic, not only building infrastructure, but also building human resources,” he said.
He and the Government of Aceh are collaborating to prepare all aspects of attracting UAE investment. A number of stages have been discussed in detail so that the signing of the investment agreement can be carried out when President Jokowi visits the Dubai World Expo in the UAE in October 2021.
Sandiaga Uno assessed that Aceh is one of the tourist destination options for domestic tourists during the pandemic. Aceh has a lot of potential for natural, marine, cultural and local wisdom tourism. For domestic tourists, Aceh is an option to visit, which has very, very high potential.
Indonesia has 5 million middle class local tourism people who currently have the main option to travel within the country alone, this is a target. Aceh also has superior creative economy products.
“We want the products of the creative economy in Aceh to rise up. One of them is my fashion, Aceh batik and several other superior creative products such as coffee which we will market on a world scale in gastronomic form,” he noted.
Sandiaga Uno continues to move to revive the tourism & creative economy sector. Sandiaga also tried to promote Lampuuk Beach, Lhoknga District, Aceh Besar as sport tourism. At that location, his party plans to hold a triathlon event.
“On Lampuuk Beach, as we can see with our eyes, the beauty of the beach is very clean and white. I see this, if it is suitable, it will be surveyed for open water swimming,” he affirmed.
With calm seawater conditions of up to two kilometers, the Lampuuk Beach area can be one of the swimming destinations. Then, several other locations of the beach can also be used for surfing.
“We have initiated Ocean Men in Sanur (Bali), if we are here to initiate a long distance triathlon. So the swimming is at Lampuuk Beach, then the bicycle can be in another location in Aceh Besar, and it will be closed with a marathon,” he said.
In addition to sport tourism, the Ministry of Tourism also initiated a tour of Lampuuk Beach to be accompanied by a music festival, halal tourism and a variety of culinary delights to help boost the people’s economy. [sources/photo special]
