Jakarta, 3 September 2023 – Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno recommended Belitung as a post-event trip destination for delegates of the 43rd ASEAN Summit.

"Most of the ASEAN delegates have arrived. Some whom I met earlier asked me where to visit (after the Summit). I said they should go to Belitung. One of the places I recommended for the post-event trip was Belitung," said Minister Sandiaga in a statement received Sunday (3 September).

Belitung is known as a geopark tourism destination, which has been designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark for its geological diversity such as its natural landscape, rock formation, minerals, geological and tectonic processes, and the earth’s evolution. Another unique attraction of Belitung is the strong connection between its cultural, biological, and geological aspects.

Moreover, Belitung is home to a variety of unique fauna and flora, the existence of which are preserved by local residents. Some of them are endemic to Belitung, such as the toman fish (giant snakehead), and the hampala fish (Hampala macrolepidota). In addition, tarsiers and herbal plants are also found there.

Sandiaga hopes that the 43 ASEAN Summit, which will take place in Jakarta on 5-7 September 2023, can run successfully, so it will further spur economic activity.

"All ministries will be involved in the 43rd ASEAN Summit and 24 heads of state will attend. Let’s all pray, hoping for the continuation of our success after the organization of the G20 Summit. We hope for economic improvement, including occupancy rate, which has reached above 60 percent," said Sandiaga.

Belitung for ASEAN and the World

Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno said the World Tourism Day Golf Geopark Challenge 2023 helped increase public awareness, both in Indonesia and  the world, including ASEAN, regarding nature tourism and geoparks in Belitung, Indonesia..

Sandiaga stated that the World Tourism Day Golf Geopark Challenge at Black Rock Golf Club of Tanjungpandan, Saturday (2 September), was held as part of a series of event to commemorate the World Tourism Day, as well as a side event for the 43rd ASEAN Summit 2023.

"We used this to build awareness of the potential of geoparks, not only for tourism but also as an effort to build the economy and maintain sustainability and biodiversity. As we can see now,the beauty of Belitung with its Black Rock which oversees the rock formations and the arrangement of geopark formations is the one with the highest global score according to UNESCO’s assessment," said Minister Sandiaga.

According to Sandiaga, the event was held in a collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, and PrivyID (certified electronic certificate and electronic signature organizing company).

"We hope to create business space and employment opportunities through this event. The target is 4.4 million new jobs in the tourism and creative economy sector," said Sandiaga..

Tourism Minister also hopes that the World Tourism Day Golf Geopark Challenge 2023 can trigger re-opening of international flights to Belitung.

"I’ve communicated with Transportation Minister many times. He said that with more events like this, say 3 to 4  times a year, would attract foreign tourists. So we can implement it, because Air Asia already stated it interest, and other airlines too. But everything is event-based and that's what we cater. Domestic (flights) are also awaiting the readiness of airlines and we also received many requests," explained Sandiaga. (US/TR/PR)

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For more information, please contact:

Director General of Public Information and Communications of the Ministry of Communications and Informatics – Usman Kansong (0816785320).

Get more information at http://asean2023.id, https://infopublik.id/kategori/asean-2023, and https://indonesia.go.id/kategori/ragam-asean-2023

Photo caption [1]: Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno (second from left) tees off at the World Tourism Day Golf Geopark Challenge 2023 at Black Rock Golf Club, Tanjungpandan, Saturday (2 September 2023).

Photo caption [2]: Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno recommended Belitung as a post-event trip destination for delegates of the 43rd ASEAN Summit. (Photo: Antara)