Love lake in Sentani, Jayapura Regency – Supplied
Jayapura, Jubi – A lack of infrastructure has become an impediment to the growth of tourism and creative economy at local levels in Papua.
“Having a tourism object but without access to go there means we can’t sell it,” said Pagawak to Jubi on Tuesday (22/3/2016).
Therefore, Papua Tourism and Creative Economy Office continues to work with different sectors and stakeholders including provincial and regional public work offices in preparing the infrastructures such as road access and other existing facilities.
“The partnership, which is not limited to the government but also the private sectors, keep ongoing in order to help the local residents to get benefit from the existing tourism attraction,” he added.
Concerning to growth of tourist rate, David Pagawak revealed his office is currently designing, programing and working with regional tourism stakeholders to develop the cultural festival and hold the national and international events to promote Papua culture to the world.
“We hope it’s not only 20 thousand but 30 thousand of tourists would come to Papua,” Pagawak said.
Further Papua Tourism and Creative Economy Office is planning to hold the Papua Airshow combined in Sentani Lake Festival in the next June, while the competition of Papua Tourism Ambassador and Tanah Merah Bay Festival would be held in October.
In separate place, the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (ASITA) DPD Papua Chairman, Au Sitepu targeted 10 thousand people to come to Papua as international tourists within the quarter year of 2016. Based on data from previous year, the number of international tourist visiting to Papua is increased to 10 – 15 percent in the first quarter of 2016, while the number of domestic tourist could not be predicted as it is rarely to be recorded.
“For the international tourists, we can get the accurate data from the police’s report, as they have to obtain the letter of permit,” he said.
He added, in the beginning of the year, the increment of the international tourists’ visit could be traced when the cruise ship Coral Expedition docking at Jayapura Port on several times ago. He also agreed with PHRI Papua that tourism in Papua needs more serious attention from the government. (Sindung Sukoco/rom)
