Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The stunning natural beauty of Raja Ampat isles
located in the northwestern tip of the Indonesian province of West
Papua, has started to attract domestic and foreign tourists.
Lured by this beauty of Raja Ampat, President Joko Widodo and First
Lady Iriana spent the last day of 2015 and the first day of 2016 there.
They preferred to spend their time in the lap of nature, free from
the cacophony of the city and pollution as they welcomed the new year.
On the New Years Eve, Jokowi, as the president is popularly called,
accompanied by Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, Head of the Presidential
Office Staff Teten Masduki and West Papua Governor Abraham Octavianus
Atururi, was on the Waisai beach, Raja Ampat District.
The next morning, Jokowi and Iriana visited Pianemu Bay in the same
district to enjoy the amazing natural scenery that combines
crystal-clear sea waters and hundreds of isles as well as hills covered
by green vegetation and virgin forests.
The head of state and his entourage departed from Waiwo Pier in
Waisai Sub-district aboard a speedboat on a 1.5 hour long ride.
After arriving in Pianemu, Jokowi scaled 300 steps to reach a
hilltop to witness the string of green isles scattered across the bays
clear waters.
Raja Ampat, which literally means "Four Kings," is located in the
Coral Triangle, the heart of the worlds coral reef biodiversity.
The seas around Raja Ampat Isles are home to the richest varieties
of species in the world, including 75 percent of all known coral
species.
The Raja Ampat archipelago encompasses 15 thousand square miles
of land and sea. There are around 1.8 thousand isles in Raja Ampat
District.
Its four major islands --- Waigeo, Batanta, Salawati and Misool ---
shelter a vast array of terrestrial species and valuable forests.
The region includes the Pacifics most important Leatherback
Turtle nesting site, the Nature Conservancy writes on its website.
Offshore reefs protect some 1,427 species of fish and more than 550 species of coral.
Some of these reefs have proven to be particularly resilient, and
include coral-building resources that help sustain the entire Coral
Triangle.
The central government has designated Raja Ampat as one of Indonesias
new 10 top tourist destinations, apart from the most famous Bali
Island.
President Jokowi expressed his optimism that Indonesia would be able
to achieve the target of attracting 20 million tourists by 2019.
He compared Indonesia to some neighboring countries having lesser
tourist attractions but which could attract 24 million to 27 million
tourists annually.
In 2013, Indonesia received 8.8 million tourists, and the number
increased to 9.4 million in 2014. The government set a target of
attracting 12 million tourists in 2015.
"We have 10 top tourist destinations. So under no circumstances is
it possible that the target of achieving 20 million would be missed,"
President Jokowi said while enjoying his stay in Raja Ampat, on January
1, 2016.
"That is easy. Raja Ampat and Labuhan Bajo, with their Komodo
dragons, are already well known. Their nature is unique, and while the
forests there are not that vast, the vegetation is unique. Which country
in the world has Komodo (but Indonesia)?" he pointed out.
He affirmed that airports, piers, and ships were needed to access Raja Ampat and Labuhan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).
Ships are needed to access islands, otherwise the costs would be very high, he added.
However, Jokowi noted that a quota should be set on the number of
tourists allowed to visit in order to protect the forests and seas from
damage.
Considering the unexploited potential of Raja Ampat, the West Papua
Provincial administration has planned to propose that the district may
change its status and become a separate province that will be specially
designated for tourism in Indonesia.
The West Papua Provincial administration will submit a proposal in
this regard to the central government, Deputy Governor of West Papua
Irene Manibui said recently.
The idea to turn it into a special tourism province was discussed by
the West Papua authorities with members of the Commission II of the
House of Representatives (DPR) in Sorong, West Papua, recently.
The legislators advised the West Papua authorities to submit the proposal to the Central Government.
They suggested that the Raja Ampat Islands District be developed into a new autonomous region with a special status.
"Like Batam Authorities, Kepra (Raja Ampat Islands) can be
specially designed as a touristic province," the deputy governor stated.
The proposed tourism province will comprise 615 big and small
islands, currently within the territories of the West Papua
administration.
The West Papua authorities will also propose establishment of a new
Southwest Papua province, the Manokwari municipality and some other
districts.
She hoped that the government will realize 10 new autonomous regions in West Papua in early 2016 or by mid-year.(WDY)
Stunning Raja Ampat to be Proposed as Touristic Province
Pewarta : Pewarta: Fardah 2 Januari 2016 11:45 WIB