TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said Manado - Likupang and Bangka Belitung have the potential to become tourism gateway of the northern part of Indonesia since the Integrated Tourism Master Plan (ITMP) for Manado - Likupang and Bangka Belitung have been completed.

“Let's develop Manado - Likupang and Bangka Belitung into inclusive, competitive tourist destinations that are able to provide sustainable economic, social, and environmental benefits. I entrust it to Tourism and Creative Economy Minister (Sandiaga Uno) to promote the campaign of #BanggaBerwisatadiIndonesiaAja more massively,” said Luhut in a written statement, Tuesday, March 29.

The campaign of #BanggaBerwisatadiIndonesiaAja which translates into Proud to Go Travelling to Indonesia is a national tourism campaign program under the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry.

In the ministerial-level meeting in Jakarta, Tuesday, Luhut said Manado - Likupang and Bangka Belitung could be developed into sustainable tourist sites and high value-added destinations that target high-spending tourists both domestic and foreign.

“The target of high spenders will bring a higher impact on tourism income,” he added.

To optimize this potential, Luhut emphasized that adequate accessibility, standardized amenities, attractive sites, and other tourism service facilities must be available. In line with that, investment support is also necessary for financing the development of these tourism facilities.

Thus, Luhut expressed optimism that the integrated tourism master plan was designed by considering sustainable aspects such as a blue, green, and circular economy to support inclusiveness.

“Of course, this will be an added value for tourism and a good investment promotion point that is in line with the increasingly rapid green-investing,” Luhut concluded.

Read: Likupang to Be Set as Middle-class Tourism, Labuan Bajo Stays Premium: Govt

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