Indonesia is tapping marine tourism to generate a bigger contribution of tourism revenue from the current 10% to 30% by 2019.
The potential of marine tourism is still untapped in the world’s biggest archipelago, said Safri Burhanuddin, deputy minister for human resources, science, technology and maritime, and it can attract up to six million tourists a year.
That is the total Indonesia is aiming for over the next four years, the minister said during the 4th annual Coral Triangle lnitiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) held recently in Nusa Dua, Bali, and attended by Travelmole.
"The number of tourists has increased marine tourism data from year to year, however, the amount is not proportional to its potential, he said.
Safri pointed to limited infrastructure and a lack of promotion.
The deputy minister cited Raja Ampat, widely regarded as one of the world’s very best scuba diving destinations, which has come to prominence mostly by word of mouth of foreign tourists.
Sudirman Saad, director general of marine, coastal and small islands at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, said marine tourism can realistically gain a 30% share of tourism but must be supported by long term sustainable practices.
"We will also train local children to become players in the nautical tourism," Sudirman told the media at CTI-CFF.
The Coral Triangle region spans six nations – Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste, and has the greatest marine biodiversity in the world with more than 2,000 species of reef fish and 600 species of coral.
The World Travel and Tourism Council estimates tourism in the Coral Triangle generates about $58 billion and provides employment for five million people.
