Category: Lifestyle

Tourism expert at the Jenderal Soedirman University (Unsoed) Chusmeru expressed belief that the XX Papua National Games (PON) provided the right momentum to boost tourism in the area.

“This is the right momentum to introduce the tourism sector in Papua,” Chusmeru noted here on Monday.

The tourism expert put forth five suggestions to boost Papua’s tourism through the PON event, with the first being suggesting to the PON committee along with the Government of Papua to provide a sports tourism package alongside the XX Papua PON to attract more tourists.

“Several activities can be conducted for tourism through this PON activity. However, related stakeholders must ensure security and comfort for all athletes and groups to visit tourist objects and attractions in Papua,” he remarked.

Secondly, on account of the fact that PON is still being held amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to implement strict health protocols for all PON participants even at a tourist attraction. Likewise, tourism managers in Papua should also apply strict health protocols.

Under the third suggestion, the Papua government should prepare excellent human resources in the tourism sector to serve PON athletes, officials, and tourists with service standards in tourism.

“Fourth, the local government needs to revamp tourism destinations. Papua has natural tourism objects that attract tourists. They should maintain and revamp it while enhancing tourist attractions, such as cultural and culinary arts as well as handicrafts for tourists,” he remarked.

The fifth suggestion entails forging cooperation with travel agencies at the earliest to create a tour package that combines the elements of sports, nature, and Papuan culture, he noted.

Hence, every athlete competing in the XX Papua PON can continue to travel after the match is over, Chusmeru stated.

“If these five aspects can be prepared properly, then the XX Papua PON can deliver several achievements, such as recreational opportunities and bring economic benefits to the government and the locals,” he added.

Source: Antara News

The Communication and Informatics Ministry and the Mimika district government are coordinating the provision of work and refreshment facilities for reporters covering XX Papua National Sports Week (PON), an official has said.

“The equipment provided at the (Mimika) media center is quite complete to accommodate the needs of the journalists. The facility is managed by the Ministry’s Communications and Informatics Office in Mimika district, as well as the public relations protocol bureau of the Mimika district Secretariat,” deputy coordinator of the XX Papua PON media center for Mimika district, Indri Aprilia, told Antara here on Monday.

Meanwhile, project manager of the media center, Yuri Maulana, informed that the facility has workstations for 35-40 people and is equipped with 10 computers with an Internet connection speed of up to 300 megabytes per second (Mbps) and a color printer.

The workspace also features three large liquid-crystal display (LCD) screens that will show the latest information on match results, standings, as well as live broadcasts from the match arena, he said.

Moreover, the media center also has a press conference room, which can accommodate 20-30 people, and an interview corner, he added.

Meanwhile, regarding refreshments, the committee has prepared six free massage chairs as well as free beverages for all reporters, Maulana said.

“There are four meal times. The first one will be a coffee break at 10 a.m. Eastern Indonesia Standard Time (WIT) followed by lunch at 12 p.m. WIT. The second coffee break will take place at 3 p.m. WIT, while dinner will be at 6 p.m. WIT,” the project manager said.

In addition, since XX Papua PON is being held in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the facility will apply strict health protocols, he added. A health room also has been prepared in case any visitors fall sick, he disclosed.

The media center will remain open from 9 a.m. WIT to 9 p.m. WIT every day during the XX Papua PON.

The XX Papua PON Mimika district cluster will host 12 sports comprising gliding, futsal, rock climbing, 5X5 basketball, skydiving, judo, billiards, aeromodelling, athletics, handball, 3X3 basketball, as well as tarung derajat—a Sundanese martial art.

Source: Antara News

Governor of Bengkulu Rohidin Mersyah introduced a new tourism investment opportunity at one of Bengkulu’s outermost islands, Enggano Island, that faces the Indian Ocean.

“Enggano Island has huge tourism potential, and we are currently campaigning to encourage tourism investment in the island,” Governor Mersyah stated while receiving Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) Head M. Arsjad Rasjid in Bengkulu, Monday.

Enggano Island has vast potential, including natural richness, marine beauty, and local culture of the native Enggano people that could attract tourists to the island, he pointed out.

The governor noted that the ease to apply for an investment permit will encourage investors to come and invest in Enggano Island.

“We currently have the integrated online single submission (OSS) system to ease permit application and cut red tape,” he stated.

The provincial government is currently developing the island’s airport at Banjar Sari Village to boost connectivity between the island and mainland Sumatra and to ferry potential tourists from and to the island, Mersyah noted.

Enggano Island is currently served by two passenger boats operated by state-owned passenger ferry operator PT ASDP and state-owned cargo and passenger shipping company PT Pelni, with each trip connecting the island from Sumatra taking approximately 10-12 hours, he remarked.

KADIN head Rasjid remains committed to supporting the Bengkulu government to attract investment to the island, particularly for tourism development in Enggano Island.

“The tourism sector will always keep developing, and the Bengkulu government’s campaign to attract domestic or international investment to Enggano Island would surely attract investors to develop the tourism business there,” Rasjid noted.

The 32 thousand-hectare Enggano Island, under the North Bengkulu District’s jurisdiction, is located around 156 kilometers from the province’s capital. Five ethnic groups native to the Enggano Island living in harmony with one another are Kaitora, Kaharubi, Kauno, Kahuau, and Kaharuba tribes, each with their distinct cultural aspects.

Source: Antara News

A top official of the Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Informatics pointed to two strategies to expedite recovery of the tourism and creative economy sectors amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We support recovery of the tourism and creative economy sectors in two ways. The first approach is to prepare the internet network infrastructure. The second strategy is to support efforts to boost public communication,” the ministry’s Director General of Information and Public Communication Usman Kansong stated at a virtual coordination meeting on Monday.

According to Kansong, the first step is to improve the internet network infrastructure in the government’s administrative and residential areas, especially in the frontier, remote, and disadvantaged areas.

The ministry also called on cellular operators to complete the construction of BTS (base transceiver station) towers on a massive scale, so that existing signals can be distributed evenly, and its advantages can be felt by the people.

Preparation of internet infrastructure in those areas experiencing signal-related difficulties will enable tourism or creative economy players to access information more quickly from their devices.

Infrastructure readiness for 4G internet signals is also focused on tourist areas, so that they can support smart travelers and make the tourist area a smart destination in accordance with regulations in Indonesia, he stated

Lastly, not only in terms of infrastructure but also digital talents, especially from the creative economy business actors, were also honed during the training conducted by the Communication and Information Technology Ministry.

The second strategy, which is a major step in the economic recovery of the tourism and creative economy sectors implemented by the Communication and Information Technology Ministry, aims to prepare effective and interesting public communications.

“Our number one public communication strategy is to focus on people, who are still unsure about the readiness of health protocols at tourist attractions,” Kansong remarked.

There has been a significant decline in the number of COVID-19 cases, so the handling of the pandemic and the economic recovery plan, especially from the tourism sector, have become better.

However, there is a lack of trust among some sections of the population regarding the government’s handling and plans, for which positive and sustainable public communication is deemed necessary, so that the tourism sector can yet again draw the public’s attention.

Disseminating news related to programs, government policies, and tourism readiness in Indonesia based on Clean, Health, Safety and Environment (CHSE) and health protocols to the media is one way for Kominfo to gain the public’s trust.

The ministry continues to edify the public to follow health protocols while vacationing or working in the creative field, so that the handling of the pandemic and economic recovery can concomitantly run well.

Steps were also taken to get rid of misinformation and hoaxes related to pandemic handling in the tourism and creative economy sectors in order to boost public trust.

Source: Antara News

Director of film, music, and new media at the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry, Ahmad Mahendra, has said that the government is working on advancing traditional music.

This is part of the implementation of Law Number 5/2017 regarding the Advancement of Culture.

“Traditional music is one of our targets of cultural advancement which aims to build national character, cultural resilience, prosperity, and cultural diplomacy,” he said during a virtual press conference at the International Ethnic Music Festival on Friday.

Indonesia’s rich culture, which includes its traditional music, has proved both a blessing and a challenge, especially when it comes to preserving and advancing it, he added.

“Indonesian people often lack confidence in their own traditional music — especially the younger generation. Hence, they have to know that traditional music is wonderful. All of us must take pride in our traditional music,” he added.

Thus, a number of attempts have been carried out by the ministry to promote traditional music, he said. They include the organizing of the recent Traditional Music Congress, he added.

In addition, Mahendra said that the ministry has advised that traditional music be included in school curriculums.

“The minister has also welcomed (the suggestion) to include traditional music in school subjects,” he remarked.

Moreover, the ministry has held various workshops for music performers and is conducting several festivals in Toba, North Sumatra and Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, he said.

The ministry will always remain open to suggestions to advance traditional music in Indonesia, he added.

“We are ready to support any great idea from any parties, especially for traditional music,” Mahendra said.

Furthermore, he lauded the organization of the International Ethnic Music Festival by the Jakarta Arts Council from September 24 to 26, 2021.

The festival will not only feature traditional music performances, but also discussions and masterclasses on traditional Indonesian music, he noted.

“We laud and fully support the event since we are also focused on the advancement of traditional music this year. Hopefully, it will become a new forum for all parties to express their works on traditional music and strengthen our music ecosystem,” he added.

Source: Antara News

The Music Committee of the Jakarta Arts Council (DKJ) is organizing the International Ethnic Music Festival 2021 from September 24 to 26, 2021 to nurture and promote traditional music, which is adapting to changing times.

“Indonesia has very diverse and strong roots in tradition, including its music that is getting a lot of attention in the global world,” DKJ Music Committee Chairman Andra Karim remarked at a press conference on the festival’s virtual opening here on Friday.

Indonesian music is not only about sound, but also serves to interpret life’s necessity, worship, life cycle, mark death ceremonies, as an aid in therapy, and for entertainment, he said.

According to him, traditional music has become an asset for Indonesia to compete internationally.

“And let us not forget that we must always honor traditional music artists,” he said.

He said he hoped that through the International Ethnic Music Festival, people will remember and honor traditional music and artists.

Moreover, he said, the festival is expected to create a new generation who will inherit the wealth of the archipelago’s traditional music, and open the possibility for traditional music artists to collaborate with new media in the digital world development.

With music archives now starting to digitize traditional music, its practitioners must become familiar with digital work practices, he said.

“This year’s International Ethnic Music Festival will be held online for three days and feature a series of events consisting of discussions, masterclasses, and traditional music performances,” he added.

Six performers will perform at the festival—Jayadwara, Taufik Adam, Baseput, Margasari, Dony Koeswinarno, and Candasuara, he informed.

While the discussions and masterclasses will be presented by Angela Lopez Lara, Gabriel Laufer, Palmer Keen, Andi Ferdiansyah Anwar, Amar Afrizal, and Djoni Theendens, and will explore many things about Indonesian music traditions, Karim said.

The International Ethnic Music Festival 2021 events will be broadcast live through the Jakarta Arts Council’s YouTube channel from 2 p.m. WIB (Western Indonesian Standard Time) on September 24.

Source: Antara News

The Communication and Informatics Ministry (Kominfo) and the Information and Telecommunication Accessibility Agency (BAKTI) have held a meeting with stakeholders to discuss the readiness of the information technology infrastructure for the XX Papua National Games (PON).

“We held a coordination meeting to monitor the IT readiness that so far showed everything is ready. We will prove this readiness report when the event begins,” Communication and Informatics Minister Johnny G. Plate said during a recent visit to Jayapura, Papua, according to a press statement issued on Thursday.

The Papua PON will drive digital transformation in Papua and West Papua, and that will not just be during the event, he remarked.

The ministry has underscored the importance of cooperation between governments at the provincial, city, and district levels in constructing the communication and informatics technology infrastructure because it involves regional land-use planning, the minister said.

Coordinated telecommunication infrastructure planning will yield an optimal reach, he said.

In addition, land status is important to ensure access directness, Plate argued.

“The awareness to own and to maintain the infrastructure on the part of the citizens themselves is also an inseparable aspect,” he added.

The coordination meeting for IT readiness was attended by BAKTI primary director Anang Latif, Papua Governor Lukas Enembe, chairman of the Central National Sports Committee (KONI), Marciano Norman, and PT Telkom Primary director Ririek Adriansyah.

During the meeting, Latif said that BAKTI has built 4G base transceiver stations (BTS) at 213 locations in Papua from 2015 to 2020. BAKTI will install 4,380 4G BTS in Papua by 2022, he added.

Meanwhile, 4G BTS have been built in 244 locations in West Papua from 2015 to 2020 and an additional 824 will be installed by 2022, he informed.

BAKTI has also provided free internet access at 373 public service points in 12 cities and districts of West Papua, which will increase by 211 points by the end of this year, he said.

Free internet access has also been provided at 863 public service points in 30 cities and districts of Papua, and their number will increase by 1.882 points by the end of 2021, he added.

Source: Antara News

After completing training in the field of the East Java Youth and Sports Office in Kertajaya Avenue of Surabaya, Rahmad Adi Mulyono, a rock-climbing athlete, is ready for an interview with ANTARA with a smile.

“Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Rahmad Adi,” he said breaking into another smile.

At first look, people may not believe his “Spiderman-like” ability to climb walls quickly and furiously: He can reach the top of a 15-meter-high wall in just 5.26 seconds.

In fact, Mulyono, who was born in Surabaya on October 3, 2000, won a gold medal at the Climbing World Championships in the speed discipline.

At the online “IFSC Connected Speed Knockout 2020” championship, he managed to hit 5.77 seconds, eliminating Italian athletes.

The victory came from a deep interest in the sport, he remarked. He said he had nursed an interest in rock climbing since elementary school and one reason for this was that it was an extreme sport.

However, he said his family members did not support his ambition since they wanted his younger brother to be a rock-climbing athlete.

“Once I wanted to compete, but I was not taken there. I was being underestimated. But I proved (them wrong) by training hard to get a name at the junior level,” he added in his strong Javanese accent.

Since then, he said he has been motivated to prove himself to his family and colleagues.

Some of his junior-level successes have ranged from a bronze medal at a local championship, a gold medal in a regional championship, to a silver medal in a national championship.

In addition to preparing for the National Sports Week (PON) 2020, Mulyono, an alumnus of Surabaya’s August 17, 1945 High School is training for the 2022 Asian Games in China and the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.

Aiming for PON gold

In the upcoming PON, Mulyono is aiming to bring home two golds in the speed discipline in the individual and team class.

He said his competitors will be hard to beat because the strength of the country’s rock-climbing athletes is almost even, but he will remain focused in the arena.

“Rivals will be tough to surpass. But I want to prove to everyone and bring the name of East Java into the scene,” he stressed.

“It is also my debut at PON. I want to give my best by performing as much as possible,” he added.

The East Java Team for PON is aiming to become the common champions in rock climbing by winning five out of the total 16 gold medals.

Chairman of the East Java provincial board of the Indonesian Rock Climbing Federation (FPTI), Danu Iswara, is optimistic that the goal can be achieved, saying that currently, the strength of athletes from regions is evenly distributed.

“It is just who is focused on the game. We have prepared everything, including the mentality of athletes who will compete in the midst of the pandemic,” Iswara remarked.

The East Java rock climbing team comprises seven women and eight men athletes, and is accompanied by four coaches.

The rock climbing sport will be contested in Mimika district, and the East Java team is scheduled to depart for the venue on September 22, 2021.

East Java’s Flagship

The National Sports Committee (KONI) of East Java is hoping the team will achieve the common champion title in the PON 2020 in Papua, despite the small preparation budget.

East Java KONI’s daily chairman Muhammad Nabil said that gold medals in rock climbing have become a given for the team.

“We are confident in the strength of the athletes. A lot of preparations have been made, including simulations and serious training,” he added.

The total PON gold medals targeted by East Java KONI are 120.

Another reason for the 120-medal target is to repeat the team’s achievements in the 2016 PON XIX in West Java, when East Java had placed second.

Although the competition will be tough, Nabil said he is optimistic that East Java will be able to achieve its goals because its athletes have been training hard for the last four years at the Regional Training Center (Puslatda).

The COVID-19 pandemic greatly impacted the process, but the athletes are expected to have maintained their fitness levels and not allowed years of training to go to waste, he added.

“Do not let the long-prepared training to no end, like health problems during the match. We hope it does not happen and all athletes are ready to fight,” Nabil, who is also head of the East Java Puslatda, remarked.

Another challenge in PON, he added, has been the absence of matches prior to the event due to the pandemic, so the athletes have not had the opportunity to test their opponents’ strength.

The Papua PON XX National Games will be held in four regions or clusters—Jayapura city, Jayapura district, Merauke district, and Mimika district.

After registrations ended, the total number of participating athletes reached 6,144. Combined with the 922 host athletes, the total figure stands at 7,066 athletes.

Overall, they will compete in 37 sports branches, 56 sports disciplines, and 679 matches.

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa has advised athletes competing in PON XX Papua to integrate with the local community.

“Make sure to socialize with the people of Papua,” Parawansa said at Grahadi State Building, Surabaya.

The East Java Governor claimed to have a close bond with the people of Papua.

Therefore, she said she also hoped that athletes, coaches, and officials from the East Java contingent would not forget the relationship with the Papuan people while competing against them.

“East Java has always been in conjunction with Papua. Although we have different cultures, languages, and traditions, we unite,” Parawansa affirmed.

She also asked the East Java contingent to reach the highest accomplishments and meet their common champion target.

Possible opponents

One rock-climbing athlete that Mulyono may go up against is Veddriq Leonardo of West Kalimantan.

Leonardo recently won the IFSC Climbing World Cup 2021 in the United States. He said PON is offering the same atmosphere as global competitions.

“My opponents at PON are also world champion athletes. For sure, I will remain optimistic and give my best,” Leonardo remarked.

The 2018 Asian Games gold-medalist in rock climbing, Aries Susanti Rahayu of Central Java, also affirmed that she will try to do her best at PON XX.

“Every athlete wants gold. I have never won a gold medal in PON. I will work hard for Central Java province and for Indonesian rock climbing,” she said.

Source: Antara News