Introductory Remarks of President Joko Widodo at the Limited Meeting on Tourism in Bali, Friday, 22 December 2017
Unofficial English Translation
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, Om Swastiastu, good evening, may prosperity be upon us all.
On this evenings limited meeting, we will discuss tourism in the country, particularly tourism sector in Bali which has been impacted by Mount Agung eruption.
Firstly, why does this Limited Meeting take place in Bali? We want to show the tourists, the travelers and the world that travelling to Bali is safe.
The eruption of Mount Agung only impact areas within 8 to 10 kilometers radius of the mountains peak. Governor (of Bali) and Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs have provided me with the information.
It means that tourist attractions in Bali are supposed to be fine. However, due to many inaccurate news on Mount Agung eruption and followed by the travel bans (travel warning, ed) issued by some countries, the tourism activity in Bali is slowing down.
However, this afternoon, Governor of Bali also told that the situation is currently improving. Thus, having this limited meeting in Bali will hopefully indicate that Bali tourism is safe despite the Mount Agung eruption.
And I hope both Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Tourism continue to provide valid and complete information to Indonesian Ambassadors to friendly countries, so the people of those countries are willing to travel to Indonesia, especially to Bali.
We have to mobilise our Embassies overseas to provide accurate information related to the safety of visiting Bali and surely, the contingency plans that we provide if disaster ever strikes.
Secondly, I also hope that Tourism Minister and Coordinating Minister encourage tourism professionals from Association of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants (PHRI), Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (ASITA), and airlines to provide information and promote Indonesian tourism. Therefore, Indonesian tourism, especially Bali, will return to normal and the tourist arrivals can meet the target we have calculated.
Moreover, on the new destinations that we have been working on for one and a half year, I would like to highlight some issues on the implementation in the field. It may be related particularly to National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PU), and Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf) concerning the spatial plan in 10 new tourist destinations that we have planned to develop, be it related to housing plan, green restoration, or resorts and hotels that will be built. We need to prepare it well considering that investors have not made massive investments yet in those area.
We also need to prepare infrastructure development, for example, in Raja Ampat that we have visited this morning on the occassion of Mothers Day. This is a new destination that can be promoted to a specific segment of tourists. Firstly, the runway and terminal are not ready yet. Secondly, the urban planning in Raja Ampat city. I think Bappenas is in charge of designing anything related to the urban planning and the housing, so everything will be carefully arranged. If we do not immediately arrange the locations of the city, the tourist attractions, and so on, then they will be developed irregularly.
I think, we need to select the locations from the beginning so the urban planning will be good, the tourist attractions will be well-operated, the conservation forest and the marine resources will be well-protected.
I think it is better if we start the urban planning from the beginning, so the tourism development can be more focused and clearer.
That is my introductory remarks. I invite Coordinating Minister or Governor to convey your reports, each in two minutes, particularly the report on Bali. (PR, Cabinet Secretariat) (AME/AW/YM/Naster)