AMBON, April 23 2018 - In order to increase tourism potential in Maluku Province, Angkasa Pura Airports held Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Collaborative Destination Development (CDD) with the theme "Collaborative Tourism Attraction in Moluccas" with tourism stakeholders such as Maluku Provincial Government, Airlines, Airports, Tourism Observers, Academics and tourism industry players, on Monday (23/4) at Swiss-Belhotel, Ambon.
CDD is a program initiated by Angkasa Pura Airports since 2015 in the form of collaboration forums of various stakeholders of the national and regional tourism industry to jointly develop the tourism sector and carry out tourism services in Eastern Indonesia, especially in the work area of Angkasa Pura Airports. This effort is done to assist the central government in achieving the target of international tourist visits nationwide of 20 million people in 2019. In the previous implementation precisely on April 11, 2018, CDD activities held in the city of Biak with the theme "The Ethnic Cultural Tourism Destinations". This CDD activity in Ambon was the second after it was first held on July 20, 2016 with the theme "Nature and Heritage Tourism At Moluccas".
"The agenda of the second CDD in Ambon is to follow up on the first CDD in 2016. In addition we also want to stimulate tourists, especially from foreign countries through the opening of scheduled international routes from and to Pattimura Ambon Airport and to build cooperation concept in developing Maluku tourism. This CDD activity is expected to strengthen the collaboration between tourism stakeholders, stimulate the acceleration of supporting infrastructure development of tourism, increase public awareness of tourism potentials to be able to support regional economic growth and community welfare, especially Maluku Province," said by Faik Fahmi, President Director of Angkasa Pura Airports.
For information, Pattimura Ambon Airport in 2017 has served 1.19 million passengers, 17,998 airplanes and 6.23 million Kg of cargo. In the first quarter of 2018, passenger traffic at Pattimura Ambon Airport reached 346,116 passengers, an increase of 16.7% when compared to the same period in the previous year which reached 297,777 passengers. While aircraft traffic in the first quarter of 2018 reached 5.101 aircraft movement or an increase of 18.6% when compared to the same period the previous year which reached 4,301 aircraft movement. Cargo traffic in the first quarter of 2018 reached 2.01 million Kg or increased 20.2% when compared to the same period the previous year which reached 1.67 million Kg.
Maluku Provincial Government itself in 2018 targeted 25,000 foreign tourists and 150,000 domestic tourists through 23 national and international events. In the year 2017 the number of foreign tourists visiting in Maluku province reached 18,000 foreign tourists or increased 20.38% when compared to the year 2016 reached 15,000 foreign tourists.
Maluku Province itself has a unique characteristic because some of its territory consists of mountains, hills, coastal, hills and marine. These characteristics provide opportunities for a lot of natural potential that can be used as a tourist attraction, especially marine tourism, especially under the sea that stores the wealth of biota and marine ecosystems. The location of Pattimura Ambon Airport is also very affordable with beautiful destinations in Maluku Province such as Morella Beach, Natshepa Beach, Pasir Panjang Beach, Pombo Island, Ora Beach, Polana Beach and Liang Beach which can be reached by 1-3 hours from the airport .
"In building a tourist destination should pay attention to 3A, namely Attraction, Access, and Amenitas. Therefore, with the CDD is expected a solution as well as innovation to develop these three things. We are optimistic with Ambon's potential and good cooperation between tourism stakeholders will be able to increase the number of tourist visits to Maluku Province," Faik Fahmisaid.
Angkasa Pura Airports as airport manager fully supports the plan and target of the government to bring tourists to Maluku Province one of them by giving full incentive in the form of free landing fee to the airline for 6 months and free of charge promotion at airport for 1 month. In addition to improving service oriented to airport passenger comfort, Angkasa Pura Airports will beautify the terminal side such as the Boarding Lounge, Check in Area, Baggage Claim, corridor. In addition, there will also be expansion of the terminal, the addition of public areas, and the addition of garbarata.
"The full incentive of landing fee is expected to attract airlines to open new routes from and to Ambon through Pattimura Airport. In addition to the Pattimura Airport, full incentive free landing fee is also given to airlines that open new routes at El Tari Airport Kupang and Frans Kaisiepo Biak Airport,"added by Faik.
With a good collaboration between Angkasa Pura Airports as airport operators as well as the gateway to Ambon, airlines as passenger carriers, tourism businesses, and Government support at National and Regional levels are expected to have a positive impact on economic growth and tourism in Maluku Province. [AD]
