The Government Continues to Develop Five Tourism DPSPs in Indonesia

Jakarta, InfoPublik - The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut B. Pandjaitan, said that the improvement in tourism performance in 2022 was supported by archipelago tourism activities with increased accommodation and food and drink growth, as well as mobility above the January 2022 baseline.

Therefore, the government continues to be committed to continuing to develop the five Super Priority Tourism Destinations (DPSP) in Indonesia.

"Indonesia's economy is estimated to be able to grow above 5 percent in 2023. This can encourage an increase in national tourist visits abroad, so steps are needed to anticipate this," said Luhut at the National Coordination Meeting for the Development of Five Super Priority Tourism Destinations (DPSP) Semester 2 of 2022 in Caldera, Toba, Wednesday, December 21.

The theme of the National Coordination Meeting this time is "Proud of Traveling in Indonesia: Strengthening the Role of Tourism and the Creative Economy in Realizing Sustainable Development Goals".

The National Coordination Meeting was held as material for tourism performance evaluation in 2022 to encourage and increase domestic tourists, especially in the five DPSPs, namely Lake Toba, Borobudur, Labuan Bajo, Mandalika, and Likupang.

Luhut said, firstly, in the context of developing five DPSPs, he will hold another meeting in Jakarta to invite all investors to be involved and prioritize environmental aspects. Secondly, it must foster regional and all-Indonesian MSMEs, especially the five DPSPs.

Thirdly, cleanliness issues by carrying out various patterns, including RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel) development. Fourthly, asking the Regents to prioritize education, which is crucial.

In addition, Coordinating Minister Luhut advised all MSMEs in the regions not only to provide food or clothing but also to provide various other types of goods to the public, such as technology and so on.

On that occasion, the Minister of Tourism and Creative, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, said that in 2023, his ministry prepared several destination and infrastructure development programs. It includes 3A (Attractions, Access, and Amenities), tourist villages, creative economy infrastructure, waste management, BOP facilities, destination technical guidance, and DAK assessment assistance in the tourism sector.

The three main achievements of the five DPSP 2022 development include strengthening accessibility and amenities in the form of physical infrastructure development (roads, airports, ports, sanitation, clean water, and area arrangement) by the Ministry of PUPR. Then, ancillary development includes asset management arrangement and utilization. As of December 7, 2022, two Labuan Bajo National Tourism Strategic Area (KSPN) assets have been handed over.

"In addition, another achievement is the development of attractions which includes collaboration in holding an international F1 powerboat racing event on Lake Toba in February 2023," said Sandiaga Uno.

Sandiaga Uno added that in 2023, there will be various national and international events, such as the F1H2O on Lake Toba, the 2023 ASEAN Tourism Forum in Borobudur, the MXGP in Mandalika, the National Enchantment Parade in Labuan Bajo, and the 2023 Likupang Tourism Festival.

Meanwhile, Minister for Administrative Reform and Bureaucratic Reform Abdullah Azwar Anas emphasized that the government would make alternatives to encourage increased tourism.

"In that case, we can propose to add collective leave days before/after national holidays, which fall on weekends. Also, on weekdays between two national holidays. We will review it again," explained Minister Anas.

Minister Azwar Anas hopes that tourism can become a change project so that sectoral egos no longer occur in each OPD. In addition, Anas also encouraged social media use in government agencies to promote tourism publications in Indonesia.

The government can mobilize national and social media for each agency to disseminate information related to tourist destinations and events held in their area.

"All civil servants and regional heads can become tourism public relations. If this goes well, what the Coordinating Minister has directed can be amplified," he said.

To encourage the five DPSPs' development, the Ministry of Administrative Reform and Bureaucratic Reform developed several policies, which include strengthening health protocols through the Minister of PANRB circular letter No. 17 of 2021. Also, provisions for leave and travel with no restrictions on travel and leave for civil servant employees as stipulated in PANRB ministerial regulation No. 9 of 2022, and optimizing the use of domestic products and UMKK (Micro Enterprises, Small Enterprises, and Cooperatives) through circular letter No. 12 of 2022.

The Minister of PPN/Head of Bappenas, Suharso Monoarfa, said that the economic recovery and tourism had improved until the third and fourth quarters of 2022.

"Projected economic growth will reach 5.4 percent in 2022 by improvements in national health, national holidays, especially those that fall on long weekends, and the holding of a series of G20 events," added Suharso.

The National Coordination Meeting for the Development of the Five DPSP Semester 2 of 2022 was also attended by the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Reform Abdullah Azwar Anas, Minister of National Development Planning/Bappenas Suharso Monoarfa, Governor of North Sumatra Edy Rahmayadi, and the Regents.

Photo: Istimewa

Author: Baheramsyah

Editor: Untung S

Translator: Wilda Stiana