No Less Interesting Than Foreign Countries, Menparekraf Sandi Uno Invites Students To Take Vacations To Indonesian Tourist Destinations

MATARAM - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno invites students to vacation in tourist destinations in Indonesia because they are no less interesting than vacationing abroad.

The invitation was conveyed by Menparekraf Sandi when the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy collaborated with students of the Lombok Tourism Polytechnic (Poltekpar) and the Mataram Tourism College (STP) to promote the potential of tourist villages in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).

"We invite famtrip participants from Mataram High School, Lombok Tourism Polytechnic, and several other schools to start appreciating tourist destinations in Indonesia. We used to see them on vacation abroad, but it turns out that we (Indonesians) ) did not lose," said Sandi in an official statement in Jakarta, Antara, Sunday, June 26.

The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy hopes that public interest in tourist villages will increase so that they can become leading destinations in Indonesia.

"The development of tourist villages coupled with the promotion of sustainable Nusantara tourism destinations is expected to accelerate the recovery of the tourism sector and the creative economy for economic revival, expansion of employment opportunities, creating new value chains, and creating quality and sustainable Indonesian tourist villages," he said.

The collaboration was presented through the “Tourism Trip to Introduce Priority Destinations for the Nusantara Market” which lasted for three days, from 24-26 June 2022.

Students carry out a series of activities and experience firsthand rural life in tourist villages by staying at homestays so that they get to know more about nature, culture, and the uniqueness of tourist villages in Lombok.

The tourist village visited by the students was Sesaot Tourism Village as one of the winners in the 2021 Indonesian Tourism Village Award (ADWI) for the CHSE (Cleanliness, Health, Safety, Environment Sustainability) category. Then also Bilebante Green Tourism Village as a sustainable tourism village in 2020 which is included in the ADWI Top 100 2021.

On the first day and the third day, the participants were divided into two groups. Each group visited and stayed at the tourist village.

While at the Green Tourism Village of Bilebante, the participants carried out the practice of processing seaweed, the practice of making herbal herbal products, learning to cook Bilebante's typical Merangkat chicken menu, and practicing the Puspanjali dance.

Meanwhile, at Sesaot Tourism Village, the participants practiced making woven sticks, the practice of making Sesaot's typical bulayak caterpillars, learning to cook traditional vegetable ares dishes, and learning the Betabek Dance.

In addition, sharing session activities were also held between tourism village managers, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, and students related to knowledge of Indonesian tourism, especially tourist villages.

On the second day, the participants visited the Taman Loang Baloq Tourism Village, which is included in the Top 50 ADWI 2022, and met and greets with Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno.

"Hopefully this collaboration can go better. Hopefully it can be entertainment for tourists, especially Indonesian tourists," said Sandiaga.