Marine Tourism Lacking Proper Development; D-8 Homework to Develop Marine Potential to the Fullest

Jakarta, Indonesia | May 11, 2009 by D-8 Secretariat

Marine Tourism requires more proper development in D-8 countries

I Gde Wiratha, the head of Bali Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the development of sea tourism in Bali and Indonesia is not where it should be. The government hasn’t put enough attention into marine tourism.

“Indonesian under water views are very beautiful and it would surely attract tourists to visit Indonesia, but unfortunately it has not been developed properly,” said Wiratha. Mr. Wiratha being one of the coordinators of the Bali Tourism Board, held a meeting in Nusa Dua to discuss the development of marine tourism which has spread from Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi, through Papua.

“Tourists visit Bali often and are curious to see Bali’s under-sea scenery and the government should build the equipment needed for the development such as piers and roads,” added Wiratha. Currently he is developing marine tourism in Gili Rengit and Gili Lontar in southern Lombok.

The Benoa harbor is one of the harbors available in Bali but it is not arranged properly. The conditions at the harbor aren’t suitable for tourists who are traveling through the harbor in order to get to their cruise ships.

D-8 Secretary General, Dipo Alam, said that marine tourism, which include coastal tourism and recreation are important parts of the largest and most rapidly growing activity in the world, the international tourism. Being a grouping with most of its memberstates are countries with marine potentials, Dipo underlined that issue relevant to coastal/marine tourism development shall be thoroughly discussed in consultative meeting in between World Ocean Conference, 11-15 May 2009 in Manado.

“Indeed, for us tourism can be viewed as a quick and reliable source of much sought after foreign exchange; as a source of job creation and more importantly a link to our agricultural sector, fisheries, forestry and construction and handicraft industries,” said Alam further.

D-8 will be organizing a Consultative Meeting on D-8 Working Group on Marine and Fisheries as an exlusive event on May 13, 2009 in Manado, Indonesia. The event will be held during the World Ocean Conference that will be attended by various countries delegation during 11-15 May,  2009 in the same place.

Source: International Bali Post, D-8 Media.

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