East Sumba Regent Will Build Homestay For Tourists, But Central Government Intervention Needs

Regent of East Sumba, NTT, Khristofel Praing/PHOTO: Mery Handayani-VOI

JAKARTA - The Regent of East Sumba, NTT, Khristofel Praing admitted that he is ready to build a homestay for tourists who want to visit East Sumba. However, Khristofel admitted that he needed the support of the central government to make it happen.

Khristofel's statement was in response to the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno who said that homestays were one of the supports that must be owned by tourist villages to continue to develop their tourism.

Khristofel said his party would develop integrated tourism in East Sumba. Later, agriculture and animal husbandry will also be developed to support the needs of hotels and homestays.

"I think that's what we have to do and now when we build a village, we concentrate on developing the agriculture, the livestock there and the homestay there. So everything is integrated. It takes time," he told VOI when met at the Kemenparekraf Office, Thursday, December 16.

"On the one hand, the regional government with all its limitations hopes that there will also be intervention from the central government, so that the Regional Government of East Sumba Regency can also have access to various policies and programs that are connected to East Sumba," he continued.

In addition, Khristofel realizes that the readiness of the community to welcome tourist arrivals is the most important thing in developing tourism in East Sumba. Therefore, education has also been carried out by the local government in collaboration with NGOs.

"If we talk about tourism, the community must be ready. The community must be ready, of course the environment is clean and so on. Without the community being ready, it can't be. The Regional Government of East Sumba Regency understands that very well," he said.

Khristofel said local tour guides were also involved to provide education to the people of East Sumba, regarding tourism and readiness to welcome tourists.

"Of course we have 70 guides, tour guides must have been trained, who of course also have sufficient knowledge to be able to transfer knowledge or knowledge to the community," he said.

Previously, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno said homestays were one of the supports that must be owned by tourist villages to continue to develop their tourism.

Therefore, Sandiaga said homestays should be built in tourist areas. Not only in East Sumba, but other districts to prepare homestays for tourists to support local tourism.

"Tourism has increased by 30 percent. Indeed, homestays are really needed," said Sandiaga.