VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Majestic Banyuwangi Festival 2019 will perform 99 and top 3 events that include in the 100 Events Wonderful Indonesia. The performance is  aimed at increasing tourists’ visit and setting Banyuwangi as the best city in Indonesia. Indonesian Minister of Tourism, Arief Yahya  in his welcoming speech at  the launch of Banyuwangi Calendar of Event  at  Sapta Pesona Building, Indonesian Tourism Ministry in Jakarta, recently, said that besides the festival, the best way to attract tourists is by setting Banyuwangi as the UNESCO Global Geopark.    

“If there is UNESCO Global Geopark (UGG) to attract one million tourists, it is relatively  easy and to get UGG is not easy. But it is more difficult if Indonesia does not have it. Therefore, Banyuwangi must fight  to obtain UGG and it has been National Geopark. The question is whether we want to build world main class destination. So, the attraction must be world class.  Common people will say, who says Banyuwangi as the world class? So, the certification of UNESCO is the strong brand for the world, including Borobudur which obtained certification from UNESCO. Thus, it is easy for Indonesia to promote it. Then, Banyuwangi must have world class attraction and it must be acknowledged by UNESCO,” said Arief Yahya.

Banyuwangi has world class natural tourism destination called ‘Kawah Ijen’ which is popular with Blue Fire,  Baluran National Park, and  G-Land beach which is loved by foreign tourists. Geographically, Banyuwangi is close to Bali and it makes Banyuwangi go international. (VOI/NK-AF/AHM)