Bengkulu Governor, Rohidin Mersyah, is keen to develop villages that can attract both domestic and foreign tourists and has announced that the Bengkulu Provincial Government targets establishing at least 30-tourism villages in the province this year, according to reporting from Antara News.
“In 2023, at least 30-tourism villages from the nine districts and one city in Bengkulu will compete for the province-level tourism village competition,” said the governor.
“This year, we want to develop the tourism sector in villages that really depict their uniqueness,” he said.
The development of tourism villages in Bengkulu will support the National Movement of Proud to Travel in Indonesia Program that has been launched by the government, say Antara News, adding that Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has stated that the program will encourage domestic tourism in Indonesia. The goal of the movement is 1.2 to 1.4-billion domestic trips for 2023.
He also urged Bengkulu Province to contribute at least 4.8-million tourist trips in 2023.
“Bengkulu is expected to contribute a minimum of 4.8-million trips, and I hope the governor can achieve this target,” he said.
Antara News say that villages in Bengkulu have been developing their tourism sector according to their potential. Some tourism villages in the province, which is known for its Rafflesia Arnoldii flower, were nominated for the top 100-tourism villages by the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry in 2021.
According to Governor Mersyah, the tourism sector in rural areas can improve the local economy and welfare while protecting the natural wealth and local wisdom.
To support the development of tourism villages, the Bengkulu Provincial Government regularly holds the tourism village competition.
These tourism villages are expected to develop their unique tourism objects and potential, so they can become a new source of economy.
Source: Antara News
Image by andri yutis from Pixabay
