Indonesian Ministry of Tourism Aims to Boost Foreign Visits to Through the Skouw Cross-Border Post in Papua

JAKARTADAILY.ID – Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno held a meeting with Yan Numberi, Chief Administrator of the Skouw Cross-Border Post (PLBN) to discuss various efforts related to the development of tourism and the creative economy in Indonesia's easternmost border region.

The Menparekraf meeting with the PLBN Chief Administrator was held in the Skouw PLBN Meeting Room, Jayapura, Papua, Tuesday, March 21, 2023.

Menparekraf Sandiaga said there were two agendas that would be collaborated between the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy with the Skouw PLBN and the Jayapura City Government to revive the tourism sector and the creative economy in border areas.

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This aims to restore the condition of the Skouw PLBN before the COVID-19 pandemic. Where per day there are 1,500 foreign tourists entering Indonesia through the Skouw PLBN gate.

"The first is the improvement of tourism infrastructure and the creative economy within the framework of the DAK (Special Allocation Fund) which will be proposed in collaboration with the Jayapura City Tourism Office," said Sandiaga.

Then, Sandiaga plans to bring back the Crossborder Festival in 2023, and this requires two-country collaboration between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

With the holding of this festival again, it is hoped that it will be able to bring in tourists to visit the border and be useful in establishing bilateral relations between the two countries.

The target is to attract up to 2,000 foreign tourists with a variety of arts, culture, music, film, and MSME bazaars, to sporting events such as fun runs.

"Later we will also collaborate with the Papua Youth Creative Hub which was just launched in Jayapura. For the fun run itself, of course, it will bring its own charm and something spectacular, because running crosses two countries," said Sandiaga.

"Meanwhile, we hope that the UMKM Bazaar can move the wheels of the economy, especially for Papuan creative economy actors, so that we can encourage this typical Papuan handicraft, fashion, and culinary. For the revival of tourism and the creation of 4.4 million jobs in 2024," he said.

The Chief Administrator of the Skouw Cross-border Post (PLBN), Yan Numberi, hopes that the Skouw PLBN can return to the way it was when it was first inaugurated. Where travelers from Indonesia may freely cross to Papua New Guinea without using a passport and vice versa. So that it needs to be reviewed regarding the granting of visa-free visas to foreign tourists from Papua New Guinea.

Besides that, Yan Numberi welcomed the re-organization of the Crossborder Festival which is planned to be held in 2023.

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