President calls for preserving culture

President Joko Widodo has called for preserving traditional culture, including traditional houses, during the development of the 10 new tourism destinations.

"Traditional buildings will not be removed and replaced with other architecture, such as the Spanish and the Mediterranean style. We have to pay attention to the customary buildings," he stated at a limited meeting regarding the Development of 10 New Bali at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java province, on Thursday.

He stated that the traditional houses that have artistic and historical value can be used for promoting tourist destinations; for example, Lake Toba in North Sumatra province.

Widodo directed the Ministry of Tourism to collaborate with the Creative Economy Agency to promote and maintain the customary buildings.

In addition to traditional houses, he stated that tree planting can be done to make the environment green in tourism destinations.

"I hope the greening in tourism destinations; for example, Lake Toba or Mandalika, will be implemented well to promote a good environment and to cover up the bare areas," he stated.

He added that the current world consumption trend is changing from shopping for goods and branded objects to culinary tourism.

"People are happy to travel, tour, as well as to try out new restaurants, coffee, and typical foods," he revealed.

Therefore, he revealed that the government and the people of Indonesia can benefit by developing new tourism destinations, in addition to the Island of the Gods, Bali.

The Ministry of Tourism is offering 10 prioritized tourism destinations known as the "10 New Balis" to boost the national tourism industry.

Minister of Tourism Arief Yahya had earlier stated that the term "new Bali" is an idiomatic expression being used, with the expectation that the new destinations would attract as many tourists as those visiting Bali Island.

The 10 prioritized tourism destinations in 2016 include Lake Toba (North Sumatra), Belitung (Bangka Belitung), Tanjung Lesung (Banten), Seribu Islands ( Jakarta), Borobudur Temple (Central Java), Mount Bromo (East Java), Mandalika Lombok (West Nusa Tenggara), Komodo Island (East Nusa Tenggara), Wakatobi National Park (Southeast Sulawesi), and Morotai (North Maluku).

Meanwhile, Bali is one of Indonesia`s iconic tourism destinations, which attracts some 4 million tourists a year, or 40 percent of the total tourists visiting the country.

"Bali is a destination that already occupies a prestigious spot on the worlds tourism map," Yahya remarked.

However, the 10 prioritized destinations will not be developed to resemble Bali as each of them has distinct characteristics.
Reported Bayu Prasetyo

Source: ANTARA