VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Luhut Binsar Panjaitan attended tourism attraction of “Banyuwangi Ethno Carnival" in Banyuwangi on Sunday (29/7). Thousands of tourists and local people also attended the ethnic carnaval which has been held for 8 years consecutively. The carnaval is consistent in carrying the theme of local culture. On the occassion Minister Luhut Binsar Panjaitan on his writtten statement said that the government of Banyuwangi had proven that the rise of tourism was so effective to create jobs and to motivate the economy more quickly. Minister Luhur evaluated that it is a good step for Banyuwangi in improving the tourism sector which is currently became the largest contributor to the state revenue after energy sector, and it is predicted to be the country’s largest sources of revenue shortly. He also added that the central government also continue to accelerate the tourism infastructure development in Banyuwangi regency. The region has been set as cantilever of IMF and World Bank annual meeting next October which will be attended by 17.000 delegations from around the world. Some of the delegations will land in Banyuwangi Airport and will travel to "the Sunrise of Java" region. For the preparation, the central government spends 50 billion rupiahs to renovate infrastructures around Alas Purwo National Park. The Park has exotic prairie and Plengkung Beach with the best wave in the world for surfing. Furthermore, there is also infrastructure improvement to the area of Ijen Crater which is famous with the natural phenomena of blue fire which is famous worldwide. Regent of Banyuwangi, Abdullah Azwar Anas,appreciated the central government’s support for Banyuwangi. Thanks to the support of the central government, province, and collaboration with the people, Banyuwangi kept growing in the last few years, and its tourism sector became one of the supporter of the growth. The Regent also said, the poverty rate in Banyuwangi decreased sharply in the last 7 years to the level of 8.6 percent from the previous year. Income per capita of the people increases 120 percent in 2017 compared to the position in 2011. He said that the most challenging duty ahead is to push economic equity to the villages, suh as through Smart Village program.