Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno has invited 30 people comprising automotive enthusiasts, tourism village activists, and mediapersons to a motorbike tour to experience thematic tourism in Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).
The region, which is hosting the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia from March 18–20, 2022, has great potential for thematic tourism, the minister said.
It is hoped that a tour around Mandalika tourism area, Central Lombok District, NTB Province, entitled “Famtrip Inspiring Village” will become more popular, he added.
“The program is part of thematic tourism. The implementation of motorbikes touring to tourist villages will help our economic revival as we can see many homestays are occupied by the visitors, and it will be a new tourism spirit,” Uno said in an official statement released on Saturday.
One of the tour destinations is Tetebatu Tourism Village in East Lombok District, NTB Province, which represented Indonesia at the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Best Village 2021.
The minister said that the village has unique natural and historical attractions for tourists.
In addition, Tetebatu Village, which is located at the foot of Mount Rinjani, also has various creative economic products and is known for its herbal plants.
“It is hoped that Mandalika area will not be the only region in NTB Province, which is developed, but also other alternative destinations, which can potentially be visited by the spectators of Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia. Hence, they will come to not only watch the racing event, but also to enjoy local tourism villages,” Uno remarked.
In addition to East Lombok District, Central Lombok District has thematic tourism potential, where tourism villages with unique attractions for tourists can be developed, he said.
The development of thematic tourism villages in Lombok Island is expected to drive regional economic revival and job creation.
“It will be a new economic order in which tourism villages become the locomotive of a sustainable tourism revival,” the minister remarked.
Source: Antara News