Would-be new capital of Indonesia dubbed Nusantara Capital   has bright prospects to continue to develop because it is supported by surrounding areas which are already established such as Samarinda and Balikpapan, in East Kalimantan province.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy is encouraging villages around the would-be new capital in Penajam Paser Utara district, East Kalimantan province, to become tourist and creative villages.

"We have carried out initial studies and the results are that the development of Nusantara Capital fits to the concept of sustainable tourism and seamless travel," Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno said.

The tourism is directed more to ecotourism. "So the tourism trend in Nusantara Capital will refer to the concept of quality and sustainability," he told a press conference here on Thursday (March 14).

Sandiaga believes that the tourism sector in the would-be new capital has bright prospects to continue to develop because it is supported by well-established surrounding areas such as Samarinda, Balikpapan, and several other areas in East Kalimantan.

The tourism sector in 2023 will contribute 9.14 trillion rupiahs of the total 524.16 trillion rupiahs in East Kalimantan's gross regional domestic product (GRDP). Meanwhile, the creative economy sector contributed 29.43 trillion rupiahs.

One U.S. dollar = 15.646,60 rupiahs.

“So we have indeed made various efforts very seriously. First, what has been done is to continue to mobilize tourism awareness movement programs including those on hospitality training," he said

Sandiaga added, in the future his party will hold an activity entitled 'Netas' or Community Meeting, which is a forum for discussion as well as an invitation for the tourism and creative economy community to participate in the development especially the tourism sector in the new capital.

There are five priority tourist destinations, namely, Mentawir Tourism Village, Pampang Cultural Village, Balikpapan Botanical Gardens, Bangkirai Hill and Tanah Merah Beach.

"We are also increasing the national tourism development index, in 2022 placing East Kalimantan in 10 of more than 30 provinces, and this will become capital for the tourism and creative sector," he noted.

On this occasion, Sandiaga also told journalists about the government's target of attracting foreign tourists through various international events.

One of these targets is 'World Working Day', an annual activity of The Association for International Sports for All (TAFISA) which will be attended by 10 thousand people on October 6, 2024 in the Nusantara Capital in East Kalimantan.

“Of course this is an opportunity that can be taken. In essence, we will continue to improve the economic and tourism sectors in the new capital to become a top five economy in the world," he said. (The Indonesian Cabinet Secretariat)

Reporting by Indonesia Window