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Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno urged local authorities to consolidate the potential of Kole Sawangan Village in Tana Toraja District, South Sulawesi Province, that can create job opportunities and boost the regional economy.

As a pioneer tourism village in the region, Kole Sawangan is ready to welcome tourists that could enjoy attractive places and arts offered by the village, Uno remarked.

"Quick action on the part of the Tana Toraja District authority to issue the directive designating the tourism village status highlighted the necessity of collaboration among stakeholders to enhance the tourism village," the minister stated during his visit to the tourism village, as quoted from a press statement in Jakarta on Sunday (Nov 21).

Kole Sawangan, despite only applying for the tourism village status four months ago, successfully ranked among the top 50 tourism villages for the 2021 Indonesian Tourism Village Award, he remarked.

Attractions related to the culture and customs offered by the village is a plus point that could make Kole Sawangan popular among tourists, Uno remarked.

The minister pointed out that the Kole Sawangan Village had hosted one of the oldest Tongkonan -- the traditional house of native Torajan People -- in Tana Toraja. The Tongkonan could be traced back to the 13th century and was reconstructed in the 1940s after a fire broke out in 1939.

Tourists could observe various weaving and beads arts produced by local women in front of the Tongkonan, especially since the regional government had also designated Kole Sawangan Village as a hub for creative economy and traditional crafts, he stated.

The Saluliang cliff tomb, considered one of the oldest of its kind in Tana Toraja and functional since 1215, is another place of interest offered by the village, Uno noted.

Visitors could also observe various traditional art performances in Kole Sawangan Village, such as the Pa'gellu dance often performed in customary rituals to express joy and happiness, he added.

Apart from traditional weaving and beads arts, the tourism village also offered Pokko Coffee, a local arabica coffee variant planted by local residents and roasted by traditional tools that left a distinct taste and aroma, the minister remarked.

With various attractions that Kole Sawangan Village can offer to tourists, Uno is sanguine that the village would become a popular tourism destination in the region.

"We will collaborate with tourism and creative economy actors to initiate an international event to introduce Tana Toraja as the second featured tourism destination after Bali," the minister remarked. (Antaranews)

The tourism and creative economy minister supports efforts to expedite COVID-19 vaccination by conducting mass vaccination primarily for tourism and creative economy players as well as the general public in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi.

The vaccination site is located in the religious tourism destination of Sa'pak Bayo Bayo. The three-day event on November 21-23, 2021, aims to administer one thousand vaccines.

"In the midst of the pandemic, we continue to collaborate hand-in-hand to conduct mass vaccinations in Tana Toraja District. This is for economic revival, because if the economy is good (which is marked) by job openings, tourism is hoped to revive again," Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno noted in a press statement received here on Sunday, November 21.

This event is the result of collaboration among the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry and the Tana Toraja District Government, national defense force, police force, Antis, and Homecare24.

According to data from the Tana Toraja District Health Office, as of November 19, 2021, some 139,334 people, or 62.3 percent, had been administered the first dose, while the second dose was given to 119,446 people, or 53.4 percent.

Until now, the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry had collaborated with various parties in order to stem the spread of COVID-19. Almost 700 thousand people were vaccinated under the ministry's program that covers 82 locations spread across various regions.

"I call on stakeholders, both those engaged in the tourism and creative economy sector and others, to be able to collaborate with us, as we have done today in order to conduct similar activities, so that all destinations and sectors involved in it are more ready to receive tourists, and the industry is active again and opens up job opportunities," he affirmed.

Head of Tana Toraja District Theofilus Allorerung welcomed the support of the ministry that reinforces efforts to expedite COVID-19 vaccination in the area.

He highlighted the high level of public enthusiasm about vaccination, as tourism was one of the strengths and solutions for economic revival in Tana Toraja.

"We remain committed to preparing various destinations, including tourist villages. We hope for program support and facilitation from the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry in the future," he added. (Antaranews)

Chairman of the Communication and Information System Security Research Center (CISSReC)Pratama Persadha has  warned that leaked personal data could be abused by terrorists seeking to expand the group membership data and urged the authority to be attentive to  data protection issue.

"During a discussion with my colleagues in the House of Representatives (DPR RI), we agreed that there is an upward trend of leaked ID card and family registration data abused by terrorists to increase the membership count of their group," CISSReC chairman Pratama Persadha stated on a seminar about the urgency of the data protection bill observed from Jakarta on Sunday.

Persadha reported that data leak cases often occurred after the victim accessed a link to a website that data theft perpetrators used for data phishing to access their personal data and steal important information, such as personal ID numbers or account passwords.

He pointed out that terrorists have exploited the data theft method to pack their membership data with the personal ID of residents that have no relations with the terrorist group activity to deceit the Detachment 88 counter-terrorism special forces.

"The recent raid conducted by the Detachment 88 forces revealed that the terrorists have collected multitudes of ID cards on their membership data, but after further investigation, the special forces concluded that those ID cards belong to the people who have no relation with the terrorist group nor participating in terrorist activities," Persadha stated.

The cyber security expert highlighted that Personal Data Protection Bill is urgent to be passed to ensure personal data safety and accountability on data leak cases, as well as to provide protection from potential data abuse by criminals, including terrorists.

"Imagine if the counter-terrorism forces suddenly raided our home because the terrorists have our ID card on their membership data," he cautioned. (Antaranews)

Deputy Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Angela Tanoesoedibjo in her remarks during 2021 Embracing Jakarta Muslim Fashion Week event, called on Muslim fashion entrepreneurs to adapt to the digitalization process in marketing and selling their products.

Digitalization is crucial owing to COVID-19 pandemic which has driven domestic and global consumers to use digital technology.

"So we need to utilize technology to increase product added value and business efficiency. Hence, we can provide the best works and solutions for the community," she said in a statement here on Sunday.

During 2020, digital trade transactions in Indonesia reached a total value of more than Rp253 trillion (almost US$18 billion) and is expected to increase to Rp330.7 trillion (US$23 billion) in 2021.

Indonesia is a potential market for the Muslim fashion industry, considering that this country has the largest Muslim population in the world. The country has some 231 million Muslims, which makes up of 13 percent of the world's Muslim population.

Additionally, the number of millennials and generation Z in Indonesia also dominates the population, as it sits at 53 percent. Coupled with large and young Muslim population, there is huge opportunity for the growth of the Muslim creative industry, especially the fashion industry.

With the support of Indonesia's cultural diversity, an extensive creativity in human resources, and the ability to adapt to sustainable values, Indonesia is considered to be a trendsetter in the global fashion industry.

According to data from the 2018 State of Global Islamic Economy Report, Indonesia ranked third in the growth of the Muslim fashion industry in the world, after the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, with transactions reaching US$21 billion.

She lauded the Jakarta Muslim Fashion Week, as it is considered as a momentum to advance the local fashion industry, especially in the Muslim fashion sector.

"This is a real measure to realize Indonesia as a center for world halal products, as well as encourage national economic growth through the development of the Muslim fashion industry and halal cosmetics in local and global markets," she said. (Antaranews)