VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Kemenparekraf/Baparekraf) held a webinar series 1 entitled 'Road to World Tourism Day: Rethinking Tourism' as an effort to increase public awareness and participation in the 42nd edition of the World Tourism Day celebration which will be held will be held in Bali on 27 September 2022.

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Menparekraf/Kabaparekraf) Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno while giving welcome remarks in the webinar, Thursday (25/8/2022), said September 27 was commemorated as World Tourism Day and this year Indonesia appointed to host World Tourism Day celebrations for the first time.

"This has had a huge impact on the national and global tourism agenda, especially in efforts to recover the tourism sector after the pandemic. Therefore, the celebration of World Tourism Day 2022 is a very strategic momentum for Indonesia to realize the tourism agenda and ideals for the future," said the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy.

“Obviously this World Tourism Day celebration belongs to us all, the Indonesian people as part of the world community. And the success of World Tourism Day 2022 will be the success of all of us and all Indonesian tourism people," he said.

Plt. Deputy for Resources and Institutions of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy as well as Expert Staff of the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy in the field of Sustainable Development and Conservation of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy Frans Teguh said that the appointment of Indonesia as the host of the celebration of World Tourism Day deserves to be welcomed with joy and support, cooperation and public participation in this regard. This is intended for local governments to make World Tourism Day 2022 a success.

"We expect support from all stakeholders because the success of this celebration is a momentum for us to transform towards a higher quality and more sustainable tourism development," said Frans.

This webinar presents several speakers including Academics, Myra Puspasari Gunawan; DPP GIPI (Indonesian Tourism Industry Association) Bali, Ralph M; Representative of the Bali Tourism Board, Sidharta Putra; and the Gianyar Tourism Community, Mangku Nyoman Kandia. This event discussed issues related to the theme of World Tourism Day, namely Rethinking Tourism.

The theme provides space for webinar participants to change their mindset and determine a strategic approach in tourism development that is more inclusive and oriented to people and the planet.

The speakers also agreed that quality and sustainable tourism will be the main focus of post-pandemic tourism. The downturn due to the COVID-19 pandemic provides an understanding of the importance of protecting the environment with discipline and wisdom.

"Currently environmental sustainability is a prerequisite, investors are also looking for places where environmental sustainability is better," said academician, Myra Puspasari Gunawan.

Meanwhile, Representative of the Bali Tourism Board, Sidharta Putra, said that tourism that does not damage nature, culture, and customs will be the basic capital in developing tourism in a sustainable direction.

“Therefore, what needs to be put forward in this World Tourism Day is the role of humans themselves. Because our concept is Tri Hita Karana, where there are three things in balance, namely by humans, social culture, and the environment. But the key is humans themselves, because humans can damage or protect the environment and culture. So Tri Hita Karana can be a platform in the development of sustainable tourism," said Sidharta.

On that occasion, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy appealed to the Head of Regional Offices and their staff to help socialize the World Tourism Day video, the use of the World Tourism Day logo at regional events, appealed to local hotels that became regional authorities to also display the World Tourism Day video. In addition, it is also expected that there will be regional events dedicated to World Tourism Day such as reforestation, eco action, river cleaning, or other activities. (VOI)