Hello friends Summarized! Do you know that Indonesia has great potential in developing marine tourism ? Yes, Indonesia with a sea area of 2.7 million square kilometers and extraordinary marine biodiversity, Indonesia can become an attractive marine tourism destination for local and foreign tourists.
However, unfortunately Indonesia’s marine tourism potential has not been optimally and sustainably managed. There are many challenges faced by this sector, ranging from the lack of infrastructure and connectivity, the low quality of human resources, to the threat of environmental damage due to pollution and climate change.
5 Strategies for Marine Tourism Development in Indonesia
Therefore, a comprehensive and integrated marine tourism development strategy is needed to improve the welfare of coastal and marine communities while conserving natural resources. The following are 5 strategies for developing marine tourism in Indonesia that we can learn from.
1. Building Maritime Culture
The first strategy is to build a maritime culture that is rooted in Indonesian society. Maritime culture is the values, attitudes, behaviors and habits that reflect the harmonious relationship between humans and the sea. Maritime culture also includes knowledge, skills and traditions related to maritime activities, including marine tourism.
Building maritime culture can be done in various ways, such as:
Organizing education and outreach about the importance of the sea for the life and welfare of the nation.
Develop curricula and learning methods that integrate maritime aspects at all levels of education.
Encouraging community participation in the preservation and management of marine resources in a fair and responsible manner.
Reviving maritime arts and culture that are unique to each region, such as dance, music, literature, culinary and crafts.
Promote marine tourism destinations that have high historical, cultural and religious values.
The second strategy is to improve infrastructure and connectivity that supports the development of marine tourism. Infrastructure and connectivity in question include:
Sea transportation network that facilitates accessibility between islands and between land and sea.
A seaport that has complete facilities and international standards to accommodate tourist boats.
The airport is connected to the main marine tourism destinations in Indonesia.
Marine highways that connect strategic areas in Indonesia through shipping routes.
Telecommunications and internet networks that enable information and promotion of marine tourism to be spread widely and quickly.
3. Develop Marine Tourism Products and Services
The third strategy is to develop quality and diverse marine tourism products and services. The marine tourism products and services in question include:
Marine tourism packages that offer various types of activities, such as snorkeling, diving, surfing, fishing, sailing, and others.
Marine tourism accommodation that suits the needs and preferences of tourists, such as hotels, resorts, villas, homestays and liveaboards.
Maritime tourism attractions featuring the natural beauty, culture and maritime traditions of Indonesia, such as marine parks, marine biota conservation, marine museums, marine festivals, and others.
Supporting facilities for marine tourism that meet safety, comfort and hygiene standards, such as information centers, equipment rental centers, health centers, research centers, and others.
4. Conducting Maritime Diplomacy
The fourth strategy is conducting maritime diplomacy which invites all Indonesian partners to work together in developing marine tourism. Maritime diplomacy is an effort to build harmonious and mutually beneficial relations between Indonesia and other countries in the maritime field. Maritime diplomacy can be done in various ways, such as:
Building bilateral and multilateral cooperation with neighboring countries and strategic partners in the field of marine tourism.
Encouraging foreign investment in the marine tourism sector by providing incentives and facilitating licensing.
Increasing the promotion of Indonesian marine tourism in potential markets, such as China, India, Australia, Europe and America.
Establish cooperation with international organizations working in the maritime sector, such as the United Nations, ASEAN, APEC, IORA, and others.
5. Building a Maritime Defense Force
The fifth strategy is to build a maritime defense force capable of maintaining the sovereignty and security of Indonesia’s maritime territory. Maritime defense power is the ability to protect and enforce the law at sea from various threats and disturbances that could be detrimental to national interests. Maritime defense power can be built in various ways, such as:
Increase the capacity and readiness of the Indonesian Navy as the frontline in protecting Indonesia’s maritime territory.
Improving coordination and synergy between related agencies in charge of maritime affairs, such as KKP, Ministry of Transportation, National Search and Rescue Agency, Customs and Excise, Polairud, and others.
Increasing the participation of coastal and marine communities in maintaining maritime security through empowerment and monitoring programs.
Increasing regional and international cooperation in handling cross-border maritime issues, such as piracy, drug smuggling, fishing theft, sea pollution, and others.
Conclusion
Those are 5 strategies for developing marine tourism in Indonesia that we can learn. By implementing these strategies consistently and collaboratively, we can optimize Indonesia’s marine tourism potential as a source of national income and people’s welfare.
Marine tourism can also be a way to increase our love for our beautiful motherland and rich in natural resources. Therefore, let’s support the development of Indonesian marine tourism in positive and responsible ways.
Thus the article this time. Hopefully this is useful and adds to all of your insights. If you have questions or comments regarding this article, please write in the comments column below. Thank you for reading!
