UNAIR NEWS – Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia, Dr. H. Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, BBA, MBA (Sandi) provided some insights for the 63rd Community Service Program – Learning Together with Community (KKN BBM) participants on Sunday, January 17, 2021. On this occasion, Sandi explained that in the current pandemic situation students need to empower the community, especially in the field of tourism and creative economy.
Sandi continued, this current pandemic makes us appreciate Indonesia’s nature and culture more. Given its vast area, there are 14,752 islands inhabited by 1,300 ethnic groups. Indonesia has the longest coastline, which is 9,993 km, is the same distance as going around the world twice, not to mention mountains, valleys, forests, and other natural potentials.
“The real treasure of Indonesia is all of you, creative Indonesians that make Indonesia has the largest cultural diversity in the world, from language, culinary, architecture, clothing, weaving, and other creative products,” he continued.
According to him, the current pandemic is the momentum to rise. The moment of KKN for students is also a very historic day because they will be part of the Indonesia’s revival.
“Students move en masse to villages, you can feel, cultivate, think, and use their knowledge to identify problems and potentials, provide and present multi-disciplinary solutions,” Sandi explained.
Sandi hopes that students can open the horizons of villagers. Furthermore, students are also expected to build optimism, help make plans and even open businesses and create jobs in the village.
“Our problem is indeed a pandemic, but we must see it as part of our transformation to shift the trends in our life, including tourism,” he explained.
He believes this pandemic is also an opportunity to improve creative economy and tourism, from mass tourism to sustainable tourism or ecotourism. From 3S, sea, sun, and sand to become sustainability, serenity, and spirituality.
In addition, ecotourism also reduces the ecological impact of mass tourism. Ecotourism prioritizes environmental sustainability and sustainable tourism.
Therefore, Sandi invited students to strive together, keeping this country away from ecological disasters. To revive the country, our villages must be strong, so it is necessary to awaken the country starting from the village. Grow ecotourism throughout the country to recover the nation from a socio-economic downturn due to the pandemic.
“It’s time, let’s move forward” he concluded.
Author: Galuh Mega Kurnia
Editor: Nuri Hermawan
