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SAFETY is a key factor determining the sustainability of a tourism destination. Fadjar Hutomo, an Expert Staff member for Management—specifically Tourism Crisis Management—at the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism, recently noted that tourist perceptions regarding safety influence their interest in revisiting a location.
“Tourism is about perception. When a nature-based tourism destination is perceived as safe to visit, tourist interest in returning remains high. Conversely, when a destination is perceived as unsafe—due to poorly managed natural disasters, frequent accidents, or crime—it creates a barrier to sustainable tourism,” said Fadjar.
Fadjar cited the example of Mount Bromo National Park in East Java, which had previously been closed due to forest and land fires. Despite this, he noted that the situation did not dampen tourist interest, as Bromo was still perceived as a safe destination.
“Tourists have a high level of awareness regarding the preservation of Bromo. Even though it experienced forest and land fires, tourists still perceived Bromo as safe to visit,” Fadjar stated during the ‘Ngobrolin Pariwisata dan Ekonomi Kreatif‘ (Ngoprek) forum. Organized by the Tourism and Creative Economy Journalists Forum at Jatim Park 3 in Batu City, East Java, the event was themed “Safety Tourism, Sustainable Future: Building Safe, Educational, and Sustainable Tourism.”
Fadjar Hutomo reiterated that tourism relies on perception; thus, nature-based destinations perceived as safe attract high interest for repeat visits. Conversely, if a region or destination is perceived as unsafe—due to issues like poorly managed natural disasters, frequent accidents, or crime—it inevitably becomes a barrier to sustainable tourism.
“The safety aspect is crucial. The Minister of Tourism has designated tourism safety as one of the priority programs.” “In essence, tourism is not just about beauty; safety, comfort, and nature conservation are the primary considerations in developing nature-based tourism at Mount Bromo National Park to ensure it is high-quality and sustainable,” he affirmed.
The Ministry of Tourism identifies human negligence—such as the use of flares for pre-wedding photos, the careless disposal of cigarette butts in the savanna, and failing to fully extinguish campfires—as frequent causes of fires. Natural factors during the dry season also play a role; extreme heat combined with strong winds allows small sparks to spread rapidly and intensify, igniting the dry savanna and making the fire difficult to control.
The Ministry also urges all relevant parties to maintain high vigilance and strictly supervise the implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) regarding the public and tourists.
“The Ministry collaborates with the media to educate tourists, aiming to foster a positive perception of the destination,” Fadjar Hutomo concluded. [traveltext.id]
