VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Illustration - Indonesian pilgrims prepare to carry out worship in the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. ANTARA FOTO/Wahyu Putro A. - 

VOInews, Jakarta : Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, stated that Indonesia would receive shipments of sacrificial meat from Hajj pilgrims in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

"This has received approval from the minister of agriculture and other authorities both domestically and in Saudi Arabia," he remarked when met after the Eid al-Adha prayers in the courtyard of the Central Muhammadiyah Office (PP), Menteng, Jakarta, on Monday.

According to Effendy, the meat came from sacrificial animals from Indonesian pilgrims in the 2024 Hajj, whose slaughter was carried out at slaughterhouses in Mecca and the surrounding area.

However, his ministry has not received detailed information regarding the meat's arrival and the total weight from Saudi Arabia.

Effendy ensured that the sacrificial meat would be clinically inspected during packaging, along with maintaining hygiene, before being distributed to the Indonesian people.

For the distribution, the ministry also targets handing over the meat to the poor or underprivileged Islamic boarding school students.

On the other hand, the minister also appealed to the public, especially sacrificial organizing committees across Indonesia, to prioritize animal or meat cleanliness in accordance with Islamic law, starting from the slaughtering of sacrificial animals to their distribution to the community.

"Do not forget to use environmentally friendly meat packaging, such as leaves or tree fronds, and if you use materials that are difficult to decompose, such as plastic, then clean them and do not throw them away," he emphasized.

It is in line with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry's (KLHK's) circular about celebrating Eid al-Adha without plastic waste, one of which calls for a ban on plastic bags and for people to use reusable containers.

Through the circular issued on June 13, 2024, the ministry also urged governors, mayors, and district heads to give directions to the sacrificial meat distribution committee to avoid using plastic while distributing the sacrificial meat and to use reusable containers//Antara-VOI

Tourism and creative economy Minister, Sandiaga Uno take a picture with participants of BBTF 2024 in Bali (Photo : Kemenparekraf) - 

VOInews, Badung, Bali : Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Menparekraf/Kabaparekraf) Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno appreciated the re-organization of the travel exhibition "Bali & Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF 2024)" as a business to business platform which is expected to further strengthen the achievement of tourist visit targets abroad in 2024.

"Last year we managed to reach 11.7 million foreign tourists, and this year we are projecting 14 million visits. We believe, with support from all (BBTF) we can even reach the pre-pandemic figures again," said Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga when attending the closing event. "Bali & Beyond Travel Fair 2024", Friday (14/6/2024) at Bali Nusa Dua Center (BNCC), Nusa Dua, Badung.

Not just the number of visits, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy hopes that the tourists who come will be quality tourists. Namely, tourists with a longer stay also have a higher expenditure value.

So it will have an impact on improving the economy and opening up job opportunities and business opportunities for the community.

"That tourists who visit Bali and Indonesia appreciate local culture also has an economic impact on MSMEs and local creative economy players," said Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga.

The 2024 Bali Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) will be held at the Bali International Convention Center (BICC) Nusa Dua, Bali on June 12-14.

The 10th BBTF brought together 282 companies as sellers from 8 countries in the world, namely, Indonesia, Nepal, Timor Leste, China, the United States, Malaysia, South Africa and Iran with 460 buyers from 45 countries. The largest number of buyers came from India, Malaysia, Russia, Turkey, Thailand, Singapore and Saudi Arabia.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Saturday (15/06/24), based on data submitted by the organizers, BBTF 2024 succeeded in collecting potential transactions of IDR 7.61 trillion. This amount is an increase compared to last year's BBTF achievement of IDR 6.7 trillion.

"Bali and Beyond Travel Fair 2024 truly shows extraordinary collaboration," said Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga.

Chair of the BBTF Committee who is also Chair of ASITA Bali, I Putu Winastra, said that during the two days of implementation, BBTF 2024 received a very positive response from all parties. Starting from sellers and buyers.

"Therefore, we are committed to continuing the Bali and Beyond Travel Fair as the leading annual travel fair in Indonesia," said Putu Winastra.

He confirmed that next year the BBTF will be held from 4 to 6 June with a theme related to sustainable tourism which is in line with Indonesia's tourism ideals, namely quality and sustainable tourism//VOI

Tourism and creative economy Deputy Minister, Angela Tanoesoedibjo giving her remarks during the Komodo Travel Mart meeting in Labuan Bajo (Photo : Kemenparekraf) - 

VOInews, Labuan Bajo : The V edition of Komodo Travel Mart was held at the Golo Mori Convention Center (GMCC), Labuan Bajo, Friday (7 June 2024).

This forum promotes tourism throughout East Nusa Tenggara and brings together 121 buyers and 62 sellers in the tourism industry.

Deputy Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) Angela Tanoesoedibjo attended the second day of the V edition of Komodo Travel Mart (KTM) at the Golo Mori Convention Center (GMCC), Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Friday (7/6/2024) , said that this event had a potential transaction target of IDR 30 billion and attracted investment interest to Labuan Bajo and NTT.

"Today's forum targets transactions to reach IDR 30 billion, which hopefully will be an opportunity for all of us and make a positive contribution to the development of the tourism business in Labuan Bajo. "Hopefully we can apply what we get today to advance the tourism industry and creative economy in Labuan Bajo and our country," said Angela.

On this occasion, Angela Tanoesoedibjo also said that the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and the Regional Government will always fully support tourism development in Labuan Bajo, Flores and NTT.

"This year we must agree to increase visits by more than 500 thousand compared to last year, and this year visits are expected to increase by more than 60%," she added.

Similar forums exist as strategic events to promote sustainable tourism and encourage increased tourism investment in East Nusa Tenggara. 

Meanwhile, Plt. Main Director of the Labuan Bajo Flores Authority Implementing Agency (BPOLBF) Fransiskus Xaverius Teguh said that this activity was a collaborative idea from all tourism and creative economy stakeholders in Labuan Bajo and NTT as a whole.

"It is our collective duty to build a reputation in Labuan Bajo Flores as a super priority destination. "The hope is that with its potential, such as culture, wild life, national parks and various other destinations, it can encourage the movement of tourists in Labuan Bajo Flores to become wider and spread throughout mainland NTT," said Frans.

Frans hopes that holding Komodo Travel Mart V this year can increase sustainable tourism and economic growth, and can encourage tourists to visit other areas in Flores and the NTT region in general.

In closing, Chairman of the Komodo Travel Mart Committee V Oyan Kristian explained, KTM is one of the promotional activities for East Nusa Tenggara tourism actors and all business actors including services, accommodation, hotels or resorts, travel agents (tour operators), souvenir sellers, and tourist destination manager.

"We are holding this event to introduce tourist destinations and sell tourism and creative economy products in order to increase the development of the tourism business in Labuan Bajo, Flores and East Nusa Tenggara in general," concluded Oyan//VOI

Indonesian Ambassador to Fiji Dupito D. Simamora (right) with participants of the fun walk held to commemorate 50 years of bilateral relations between Indonesia and Fiji in Suva, Fiji, on Saturday (15/6/2024). (Photo by: ANTARA/HO-KBRI Suva)

VOINews, Jakarta: The Indonesian Embassy in Suva, Fiji, hosted a fun walk event on Saturday to mark the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations between Indonesia and Fiji.

As reported by Antara, Ambassador Dupito D. Simamora emphasized that the event, held in partnership with the Fiji-Indonesia Friendship Association (FIFA), symbolizes the longstanding and mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries.

"The fun walk aims to bring the community together in celebrating this significant milestone and to reaffirm our commitment to fostering friendship and cooperation in the future," stated Dupito, according to a statement from Jakarta.

Apart from Dupito, the event was attended by Acting President of Fiji Salesi Temo and FIFA Chairman and former Fijian Ambassador to Indonesia Tui Cavuilati.

The fun walk commenced at 7 a.m. local time from the Albert Park Lower Hall in Suva, following a route along Queen Elizabeth Drive towards Suzuki Park before concluding back at Albert Park, where participants enjoyed refreshments.

Over 300 individuals participated in the event, including members of the diplomatic corps, Fijian government officials, Indonesia Scholarships for Fiji alumni, local students, and the Indonesian community in Fiji.

Dupito also highlighted the presence of students from Queen Victoria School, who received rehabilitation assistance from the Indonesian government following the damage caused by Cyclone Winston in 2016, as a testament to the strong bilateral ties and enduring cooperation between Indonesia and Fiji.

In addition to the fun walk, KBRI Suva organized various other activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Indonesia-Fiji relations, including the donation of medical equipment for rural community empowerment, a seminar on Indonesia-Fiji cooperation with the Fiji National University, and the establishment of the Fiji-Indonesia Friendship Association./Antara/VOI