Jakarta hosted a spotlight event for the promotion of Papua Selatan tourism, with the Papua Selatan Provincial Government presenting the region’s unique natural landscapes, Indigenous cultural heritage, and creative industries at an exhibition entitled “Experience Papua Selatan: The Untouched Paradise of Indonesia.” The event was held at Anjungan Sarinah on 26 July 2026 and is part of the province’s broader strategy to strengthen tourism, attract investment, and expand economic opportunities for local communities through sustainable development.
The exhibition, organized by the Provincial Office for Youth, Sports, Tourism, and Creative Economy, gave visitors a comprehensive look at the many attractions of Papua Selatan. The event in Jakarta offered traditional performances, handicrafts, culinary products, cultural exhibitions, and information on top tourism destinations to audiences from across Indonesia and international visitors.
The exhibition was an opportunity to show a different face of Papua by highlighting its extraordinary environmental richness, cultural diversity, and tourism potential while promoting responsible travel that benefits Indigenous communities, provincial officials said.
The event also showed the government’s increasing push for tourism as a key pillar for regional economic development, alongside agriculture, fisheries, and the creative economy.
“Experience Papua Selatan” Presents an Untouched Paradise
The theme “Experience Papua Selatan: The Untouched Paradise of Indonesia” was selected to promote the unique combination of preserved ecosystems, authentic Indigenous traditions, and relatively unknown tourism destinations in the province.
Unlike many other popular tourist destinations, Papua Selatan offers visitors a chance to explore pristine landscapes, vast wetlands, tropical forests, and highly diverse coastal ecosystems.
The exhibition was not only to promote tourism but also to introduce visitors to the cultural identity of Papua Selatan through music, dance, traditional crafts, local cuisine, and stories in the community, explained provincial tourism officials.
Interactive exhibits invited visitors to discover the province’s natural wonders and learn about the customs and traditions that Indigenous peoples have kept alive throughout Merauke and surrounding districts.
Papua Selatan’s biggest comparative advantage in the tourism industry in Indonesia, officials say, is the preservation of cultural authenticity.
The province would rather be known as a place where visitors can find authentic cultural experiences alongside wonderful natural settings than compete with large-scale infrastructure.
Wasur National Park Highlights Global Ecotourism Potential
One of the destinations that is the center of special attention during the exhibition is Wasur National Park, which is widely known as one of the most important conservation areas in Indonesia.
This national park, located near Merauke, is internationally renowned for its vast wetlands, abundant wildlife, migratory bird habitats, and outstanding ecological diversity.
Tourism officials said Wasur is a destination with world-class ecotourism potential because of its unique mix of biodiversity and Indigenous cultural landscapes.
The exhibition gave visitors a glimpse of the ecological importance of the park through visual presentations of bird-watching opportunities, wetlands, savannahs, and conservation programs.
Officials said the development of tourism in Papua Selatan remains focused on protecting the environment.
Instead of encouraging mass tourism, the province wants to create visitor experiences that support conservation and provide sustainable economic opportunities for surrounding communities.
The government believes that this balanced approach will help protect Papua Selatan’s natural heritage while also growing responsible tourism in the years ahead.
Promoting Indigenous Culture and Creative Economy
In addition to nature attractions, the exhibition also showcased the cultural richness of Papua Selatan in the form of various creative products by local artisans and cultural communities.
In the whole province, visitors saw displays of traditional handicrafts, woven products, carvings, indigenous artwork and fashion based on Papuan motifs, and locally made souvenirs that reflect the distinct cultural traditions of the province.
The traditional music and dance performances also exposed the audiences to the artistic diversity of Papua Selatan while showing the close relationship between cultural identity and community life.
Local officials say supporting local artisans is an important part of tourism development, because creative industries provide jobs and preserve cultural heritage for future generations.
The exhibition also promoted local food products and culinary specialties, inviting visitors to discover Papua Selatan through its natural landscapes and its distinctive gastronomic traditions.
They also stressed the importance of the growth of the creative economy in ensuring that the benefits of tourism are more widely distributed among local communities, rather than remaining concentrated in the hospitality sector.
Tourism as a Strategic Development Sector
The Jakarta exhibition is in line with Papua Selatan’s overall strategy to promote tourism as one of its priority sectors for sustainable economic growth.
Provincial leaders believe responsible tourism can create jobs, attract investment, provide a boost to small businesses, and create new opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs.
The government wants to develop a tourism model that protects environmental assets and improves local welfare through a combination of conservation, culture, and community participation.
Officials also emphasized that successful tourism development will require ongoing cooperation between government institutions, local communities, private businesses, conservation organizations, and cultural groups.
Such partnerships are expected to improve destination management while ensuring that tourism growth is environmentally sustainable and culturally respectful.
Sustainable Tourism Supports Community Development
The Papua Selatan Provincial Government recognizes that tourism is not only an economic sector but also a driver of community empowerment and sustainable regional development. During the exhibition officials stressed that the rise in tourism should be considered an opportunity to generate real benefits for Indigenous Papuan communities and protect the province’s unique environmental and cultural heritage.
The government is also promoting destinations such as Wasur National Park along with locally made handicrafts, traditional shows, and food products to keep the tourism revenues within the local communities. Papua Selatan visitors are encouraged to not only experience its extraordinary landscapes but also to buy locally made products, stay in community-based accommodation, and engage directly with Indigenous cultural experiences.
The province’s authorities believe this inclusive approach could create new jobs for artisans, tour guides, transport operators, hotels and restaurant businesses, and small and medium enterprises. Tourism thus emerges as a major factor in local economic diversification and reduces reliance on conventional sectors alone.
Officials also emphasized that sustainable tourism means managing the increase in the number of visitors while protecting the environment. It is still important to protect forests, wetlands, wildlife habitats, and Indigenous cultural sites so that future generations can continue to benefit from Papua Selatan’s natural and cultural assets.
Cultural Diplomacy Strengthens Papua Selatan’s International Profile
The exhibition at Anjungan Sarinah was also an exercise in cultural diplomacy.
Indonesia’s newest province, Papua Selatan, is still introducing itself to broader national and international audiences. Exhibitions organized in Jakarta by the provincial authorities provide awareness of Papua’s positive development story, adding a richer understanding of the region beyond the issues often reported.
The event showed how culture can serve as a powerful bridge between people from different backgrounds. Visitors were able to appreciate the diversity that characterizes Papua Selatan through traditional dances, Indigenous music, handcrafted artwork, woven products, and cultural exhibitions.
They said promoting culture also helps build national unity by encouraging Indonesians from other regions to get to know Papua’s history, traditions, and contributions to the country’s cultural diversity better.
The exhibition introduced Papua Selatan to international visitors as a new destination where ecological conservation, Indigenous heritage, and authentic travel experiences coexist. Provincial leaders are hopeful that these initiatives will slowly build international awareness of tourism potential in Papua Selatan and attract responsible travelers who are interested in nature, culture, and sustainable tourism.
Creative Economy Creates New Opportunities
The exhibition also aimed to promote tourism and to underline the increasing importance of the creative economy as a driver for regional development.
Handicrafts, carvings, woven products, fashion inspired by Papuan motifs, natural products, and traditional culinary specialties illustrated the entrepreneurial potential that all of Papua Selatan has.
“Through the development of creative industries, communities can add value to local cultural resources, while also preserving traditional knowledge and craftsmanship,” officials said.
The provincial government sees improved market access for local artisans as a way to stimulate innovation without sacrificing cultural authenticity. Tourism is expected to grow, and with it, the demand for locally made handicrafts and cultural products—which will create more economic opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs.
The exhibition therefore became not only a promotional event but also a marketplace where local producers could introduce their products to wider audiences, forge business networks, and strengthen connections with potential investors and tourism operators.
They stressed that support to small businesses remains a key component of inclusive economic development, which enables the growth of tourism to benefit many segments of society.
Building a Sustainable Tourism Future
The Jakarta exhibition is seen by provincial officials as part of a longer strategy to establish Papua Selatan as one of Indonesia’s leading sustainable tourism destinations.
Future initiatives are expected to include increased destination marketing, improved tourism infrastructure, capacity building for local tourism service providers, improved environmental conservation programs, and continued support for creative industries.
They also noted the importance of working with provincial government agencies, local communities, conservation organizations, universities, and private sector partners to develop tourism in a responsible manner.
Papua Selatan wants to link environmental protection with community involvement and cultural preservation to create a tourism model that can deliver long-term economic growth while at the same time keeping the ecological integrity of the province intact.
This approach is in keeping with Indonesia’s broader commitment to sustainable tourism development, which is based on conservation, community empowerment, and inclusive economic opportunities.
Looking Ahead
As Papua Selatan moves forward in developing its tourism industry, promotional campaigns like “Experience Papua Selatan: The Untouched Paradise of Indonesia” are expected to play a greater role in promoting the province to the domestic and international markets.
“We are still optimistic that the increased exposure will lead to more visitors to enjoy the varied attractions of Papua Selatan and create new avenues for investment, entrepreneurship, and community-based tourism,” the leaders added.
Papua Selatan is leveraging its world-class natural attractions, vibrant Indigenous cultures, and a burgeoning creative economy to position itself as a destination that can deliver meaningful travel experiences while contributing to sustainable regional development.
Conclusion
The “Experience Papua Selatan: The Untouched Paradise of Indonesia” exhibition showcased the Papua Selatan Provincial Government’s efforts to promote the province as a place where biodiversity, Indigenous culture, and sustainable tourism are fused to create a compelling appeal. The exhibition provided a complete picture of the development potential of Papua Selatan through the display of iconic attractions, including Wasur National Park, traditional arts and handicrafts, culinary heritage, and creative products made by local people. The officials stressed that tourism should be a source of economic growth but also a tool for the empowerment of local communities, the preservation of cultural heritage, and the protection of natural ecosystems. As Indonesia continues to develop sustainable tourism across the country, Papua Selatan’s integrated approach is an example of how conservation, culture, and community engagement can combine to create long-term prosperity while also strengthening the province’s identity on both the national and international stage.