Indonesia urges private business to escalate marine tourism development
Private sector business has been urged to play a leading role in advancing Indonesian marine tourism and to promote sustainable tourism development in coastal communities.
NGOs, business leaders and tourism experts met recently to discuss policy, tourism strategy and solutions at the 4th Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security forum, held in Bali.
"The private sector should play a greater role, and take the lead in developing the Coral Triangle as one of the world’s sustainable marine tourist destinations," said Ketut Sarjana Putra, executive director of Conservation International Indonesia.
Indonesian Marine Tourism Business Association chairman Ismail Ning also called on private business to take the lead.
"The private sector needs to understand that no tourism will happen without sustainability. When the government lack resources, the private sector should step up and protect the area," Ning said.
Lack of state funded infrastructure and promotion of Indonesia’s far flung coastal areas has prevented the country from distributing tourism wealth more evenly.
Indonesian tourism is still dominated by Bali but there has been a strong push to market regional destinations as part of a ‘Beyond Bali’ campaign.
Also, excessive red tape has limited the number of private enterprises setting up tourism businesses but the government has just announced sweeping changes to remove dozens of regulations relating to business licensing.
"It will strengthen national industry, help develop microbusinesses, facilitate trade between the regions in Indonesia and invigorate the tourism industry," President Joko Widodo said, announcing the first phase of business reforms this week.
The Coral Triangle, which spans Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor Leste, has seen a steady increase in visitor numbers putting a strain on fragile ecosystems in some areas.
However in Eastern Indonesia many areas remain relatively untouched due to a lack of air connectivity, and port and road infrastructure.
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