Belitung’s Transformation from a Mining Area to Idyllic Tourist Destination in Indonesia

Several tourism-related festivals have been held throughout the area such as the Rambutan Fiesta Festival in January 2020.

“The festival helped improve their income status. Farmers and locals have far better income from it than in the past.”

Working hard for a UNESCO status

Isyak said that the regional government has been hard at work in attaining the UNESCO Global Geopark status which will convene in Paris, France in November 2020.

The Deputy Regent is confident in Belitung’s chances of obtaining the UNESCO status as the government and society have demonstrated their commitment to preserving nature and what they have been given.

The tourist destination in Indonesia currently boasts an international airport, the Tanjung Kelayang special economic zone, and a strategic national tourism area, however, Isyak asserts that it now needs a UNESCO-endorsed geopark.

Read also: How Indonesian Batik Became a UNESCO Intangible World Heritage

Although Belitung did not succeed at its first global geopark attempt, said Yuspian, Chairman of the Belitung Geopark Development Agency. The decision only means that the island has been given another chance to make progress for the next two years, the official added.

Within those two years, the government must make a progress report based on previous recommendations to be handed to the Indonesian National Committee for UNESCO as the country’s official representatives.

(Writer: Nabilla Ramadhian | Editor: Anggara Wikan Prasetya)

Source: https://travel.kompas.com/read/2020/09/25/123300027/transformasi-belitung-dari-tambang-ke-pariwisata?page=all#page2