Govt Launches Tourism Awareness Movement at HPN 2017

Ambon, InfoPublik - Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan launched the Tourism Awareness Movement and “Sapta Pesona” Action in order to awaken the Ambon tourism at the event of National Press Day (HPN) 2017 at Halong Beach, Ambon, Wednesday (2/8).

Also present at the launching event of Tourism Awareness Movement and “Sapta Pesona” Action were Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, Maluku Governor Said Assagaff, and the Chairman of Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) Margiono.

The event was held to support the HPN event and also became an important moment in promoting the tourism potential of Maluku, especially Ambon, aka Ambon Manise, the host city of HPN 2017.

Tourism Awareness Movement and “Sapta Pesona” Action are parts of Tourism Ministry’s 2017 ten priority programs that attempt to improve the competitiveness of Indonesia’s tourism. The main aspects that need improvement to win the tourism competition are safety and security, health and hygiene, ICT readiness, enviromental sustainability, and tourist service infrastructure.

In a press release accepted in Ambon, Wednesday (2/8), Tourism Minister Arief Yahya stated that President Joko Widodo mandated the acceleration of tourism sector growth in order to support the national economic growth.

The development program for the next five years focuses on infrastructure, maritime, energy, food, and tourism. The program posts tourism as the leading sector.

“World tourists would choose to take vacation in high-ranked countries for the comfort consideration,” said Arief Yahya.

Tourism Awareness Movement and “Sapta Pesona” Action were launched by the symbolic handover of garbage cans and hygiene equipments to 500 participants from local government officials, members of the press, tourism businessmen, academics, Tourism Awareness Communities (Pokdarwis), and local communities around Halong Beach. They conducted the beach cleaning action.

Tourism Awareness Movement and “Sapta Pesona” Action would be conducted at 136 tourism destinations across Indonesia throughout 2017. (Translator: Erik Limantara)