Merauke – Assistant I of the Papua Province Secretariat, Drs. Agustinus Joko Guritno, M.Si hopes that the tourism potential in South Papua Province will become a government product, especially to increase local revenue (PAD).
This was conveyed when opening competency-based tourism youth training at Megaria Merauke Hotel, Monday (14/10). Guritno said, tourism is a promising sector for local revenue both at the provincial and district levels.
According to him, in the future the tourism sector of South Papua Province is very promising and must be used as a government product, especially in increasing regional income.
“If we look, South Papua Province consists of four regencies, there are lots of tourist objects,” said Guritno. He explained that tourism potential should be explored and promoted. Therefore, from now on, tourism objects in South Papua must be promoted.
In addition, tourist objects in four districts in South Papua must be recorded. The tourist objects are diverse including natural tourism that can be enjoyed. “Tourism that we can convey to tourists both foreign and domestic is natural tourism in South Papua,” he said.
It is said, there are interesting man-made attractions, namely culinary tourism, it’s just that there is no special place that is the center so that employees can also stop by and have lunch.
“This is important. There is a lot of potential for art tourism in Merauke that also needs to be built, for example art studios that already have buildings. I once came to Bali, I saw that the art studio there had a building, so the art was scheduled,” said Guritno.
According to him, Bali has certain days scheduled to visit the art studio, for example on Saturday, visitors queue to perform at the art studio. “The warehouse is quite big like a movie theater. There are admission tickets sold for foreign tourists who want to enter to watch art performances,” he said.
Still according to him, if art tourism has been organized and scheduled such as Saturday there is a dance performance from Asmat, the public already knows and can buy entrance tickets. The proceeds from the purchase of the ticket are shared with the Tourism Office and it becomes one of the Regional Original Revenue (PAD).
“From now on we have to think like that, we need to learn from Bali Regency which has been able to finance itself and its surrounding districts,” he said.
PAD from there is used for districts and provinces, the funds received from the central government are used to pay Additional Employee Income (TPP) for the State Civil Apparatus (ASN).
He said, to develop the region, it is necessary to learn from other places so that tourism potential can be utilized. “We also need to ask the ministry to guide us regarding how to increase tourism potential, so that we can design,” concluded Guritno.
