Villages are current strength of Indonesian tourism: ministry

The strength of Indonesia’s tourism sector currently lies in its tourism villages, acting deputy for destinations and infrastructure development at the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry, Frans Teguh, has said.

“The most basic and important thing in realizing quality tourism is the (excellent) standard of service,” he added, according to a press release issued on Monday.

Furthermore, he appealed to tourism actors to maintain the wealth of local wisdom and continue innovating.

“Innovation, adaptation, and collaboration are the keys to encourage a more quality and sustainable tourism industry,” he remarked.

Currently, the ministry is striving to realize quality and sustainable tourism by promoting the three pillars of Indonesian tourism development: Sapta Pesona, CHSE (Cleanliness, Health, Safety, and Environment Sustainability), and excellent service through tourism awareness dissemination.

Sapta Pesona is a concept designed by the ministry for tourism development, which seeks to encourage improvement in seven aspects of tourism—safety, order, cleanliness, coolness, beauty, hospitality, and impression.

The acting deputy said that the implementation of Sapta Pesona must be supported with trustworthy service.

“Tourism is a business about trust, thus all tourism actors must partake and contribute (to maintaining it),” he noted.

Furthermore, the implementation of the CHSE aspect must be ensured and monitored so that tourist destinations can become clean, healthy, and secure areas with well-maintained environment and sociocultural aspects.

“All tourism actors certainly hope that all of the visiting tourists will feel comfortable, stay for a long duration, and come back,” Teguh said.

Hence, they must promote attractive tourism activities that can provide the best and most unique experiences to visitors, he added.

Launch in mid-March 2022, the tourism awareness dissemination will take place in 65 tourist villages at six priority tourist destinations during the 2022–2023 period.

In addition to promoting the three pillars of Indonesian tourism, in the future, the activity will include training on entrepreneurship and optimizing the potential of local tourism products so that each village can have its own economic driver.

Recently, the activity was held simultaneously in nine tourism villages around the Borobudur, Yogyakarta, and Prambanan tourism areas from June 11–12, 2022.

Source: Antara News

Indonesian Hajj pilgrims to receive three meals daily: Ministry

The Religious Affairs Ministry has made assurance that Indonesian Hajj pilgrims would be provided three meals per day during their stay in Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj rituals.

“This year, the government provides three meals every day that comprises breakfast, lunch, and dinner,” spokesperson of the Indonesian Central Hajj Organizing Committee (PPIH), Akhmad Fauzin, remarked while delivering his press statement at the Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory here on Monday.

The meal package will comprise rice, vegetables, a side dish, fruit, and mineral water, and the menu will vary daily, he noted.

The official remarked that every meal will be distributed to every hotel hosting Indonesian Hajj pilgrims before meal time.

“The food consumption time limit will be 11 a.m. for breakfast, 5 p.m. for lunch, and 11 p.m. for dinner, which will be marked on every meal package. The food will also be served in a box that has passed the hygiene standard test,” Fauzin stated.

He urged Hajj pilgrims to be watchful of the harsh weather conditions in Saudi Arabia as currently, air temperature at noon may reach 46 degrees Celsius, and the lowest temperature at night could touch 38 degrees Celsius.

Pilgrims are urged to consume their meals on time, drink ample water, consume vitamins, and restrict outdoor activities to prevent a decline in their health conditions, the ministry’s official stated.

“If (pilgrims) want to go outside, equip (yourself) with protective equipment and proper footwear. We also urge Hajj pilgrims to not drink only when thirsty, to consume vitamins, and maintain personal health by eating on time and ensuring sufficient rest,” Fauzin remarked.

He stated that currently, some 23,178 Indonesian Hajj pilgrims had arrived in Medina, and 3,619 pilgrims divided into nine flight groups at five embarkation points will depart for Saudi Arabia on Monday.

Source: Antara News