Belitung eyes more foreign tourists, UNESCO Geopark�renewal

Tanjungpandan, Bangka Belitung (ANTARA) - Indonesia will step up international promotion of Belitung to attract more foreign visitors while supporting its UNESCO Global Geopark revalidation and expanding tourism cooperatives, Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said on Sunday.

"We will continue improving Belitung's destinations, expand overseas promotion, attract more international visitors to tourism villages, and strengthen tourism cooperatives," Wardhana said in Tanjung Kelayang, Belitung.

Speaking at the launch of a tourism awareness group integration program through cooperatives, she said National Development Planning Agency has designated Belitung a priority destination under Indonesia's medium-term development plan.

Wardhana said the initiative aligns with cooperation between the Tourism Ministry and the Cooperatives Ministry to strengthen tourism villages through high-quality tourism cooperatives.

Eight tourism villages have been selected for the pilot phase, with the program set to expand to more destinations nationwide.

Wardhana also thanked Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono for supporting tourism villages through mentoring and capacity-building programs.

She said three Belitung tourism villages have won awards and improved their competitiveness, adding stronger cooperatives are expected to accelerate the island's tourism development.

Beyond tourism villages, Wardhana said her visit also focused on coordinating Belitung's UNESCO Global Geopark revalidation, scheduled for August.

She urged all stakeholders to work together to retain Belitung's UNESCO Global Geopark designation.

"We hope Belitung's UNESCO Global Geopark will achieve an even higher standing," she said.

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Translator: Kasmono, Kenzu

Editor: Rahmad Nasution

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