Encouraging West Sumatra Tourism Recovery, Kemenparekraf Supports The Development Of KEK Mandeh To Accelerate Vaccinations

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) continues to carry out various efforts to accelerate the recovery of the tourism sector in West Sumatra. Starting from the development of special economic zones (KEK) to accelerating vaccinations for actors in the tourism sector and the creative economy.

The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy / Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Agency, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno said the government is ready to support the development of tourism and creative economy in Pesisir Selatan Regency, which is carried out through the Mandeh Special Economic Zone (KEK) program.

The KEK Mandeh has been proposed by the local government since 2017. Currently the 420 hectare KEK is still waiting for potential proposals from private parties who want to invest.

"There are two main topics that we discuss, the first is to complete the Mandeh Special Economic Zone (KEK) which is being designed to become a tourism-based growth center. We will succeed in the KEK Mandeh program which is not only to present nature-based, marine tourism, but also culture, "he said, Saturday, April 25.

Sandiaga explained that the success of this program would require support and collaboration from various parties. This includes continuing pending development programs such as tourist information centers, homestays, as well as tourist villages.

"One of them can be done through a partnership program approach between the government and the business world. So the focus is not all on the government budget," he said.

Speed up vaccination

In addition, Sandiaga also asked the West Sumatra provincial government to accelerate the implementation of vaccinations for tourism and creative economy actors as an effort to revive the parekraf sector.

"For vaccines, the West Sumatra Provincial Government has stated that the provision of vaccines (for parekraf actors) will be presented soon," he said.

Sandiaga said vaccination is one of the main pillars in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Including in the tourism sector and the creative economy.

Therefore, ideally, before fully reopening tourism and the creative economy, tourism activists should get vaccinated. The central government, he said, is committed to continuing to prepare the availability of vaccines.

"Cooperation between the provincial government, district governments and city governments in West Sumatra is the key," he said.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of West Sumatra, Audy Joinaldy, said that vaccination is one of the main programs that his party runs. The West Sumatra Provincial Government will also pick up the ball by setting up a vaccination center at the Grand Mosque of West Sumatra.

"We will pick up the ball, we will start trying to open the vaccine at the Grand Mosque. So, later on, tourism activists can come directly," said Audy Joinaldy.