BIAK, Apr 11, 2018 - In order to raise public awareness of potential and to support tourism especially in Biak-Papua Province, Angkasa Pura Airports held Collaborative Destination Development activity with theme "The Ethnic Cultural Tourism Destinations". In the execution of CDD which took place at Asana Aerowisata Hotels & Resorts, there were representatives from Papua Provincial Government, Biak Numfor District Government, TNI, Police, academicians, airlines, Association of Indonesian Travel Companies (ASITA), Association of Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant (PHRI), Airnav Indonesia, and business partners and tourism businesses in Biak, Wednesday (11/4).
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 the work area of Angkasa Pura Airports. This effort was made to assist the central government in achieving the target of national tourist visits nationwide of 20 million people in 2019. CDD activity in Biak was the second after the first held on 30 November 2017 ago with the theme "Discover The Nature & Culture of Biak Island ".
"Angkasa Pura Airports has committed to encourage tourist arrivals in the country through routine CDD activities carried out in the company's work areas since 2015. The CDD activities are expected to strengthen collaboration among tourism stakeholders, stimulate acceleration of tourism infrastructure development, increase public awareness of tourism potentials able to support regional economic growth and community welfare, especially Papua Province and Biak Numfor District,"said by Director of Marketing and Services Angkasa Pura Airports Devy Suradji.
Biak Islands has various tourism and cultural potentials that if developed together with stakeholders at national and regional levels will be able to bring in domestic and foreign tourists. One of the routine activities is Biak Munara Wampasi Festival which is the annual activity of Biak Numfor District Government in introducing the exotic cultural attractions and natural beauty of Papua. One of the attractions that characterize Biak Munara Wampasi Festival is Snap Mor which is a traditional fishing attraction with Jubi (fishing gear and fish storage) in the sea water at low tide. In addition there are attractions running on hot stones (apen bayeren), traditional boat competitions (waimansusu), Padaido Islands tour, as well as art and dance typical of Biak.
In addition, the location of Frans Kaisiepo Biak Airport managed by Angkasa Pura Airports is also very affordable with the beautiful tourist attractions spots, including World War II Monument, Paray Blue Lake, Anggopi Beach, Adok Cliff which is only 15-40 minutes from the airport. Samares Blue Lagoon, Wari Beach, Samber Pasi Island and Wafsarak Waterfall can be reached by land for 1-2 hours from the airport.
"In building a tourist destination should pay attention to 3A, namely Attraction, Access, and Amenity. Therefore, with the CDD, it is expected a solution as well as innovation to develop these three things. We are optimistic with Biak's potential and good cooperation between tourism stakeholders will be able to increase the number of tourist visits to Biak Namfor District," Devy Suradji said.
In 2017, domestic and international passenger traffic at Frans Kaisiepo Biak Airport was recorded at 435,861 passengers, an increase of 6.7% compared to the previous year. While the plane traffic in 2017 and then reached 6,726 movements and cargo reached 2.91 million Kg. Department of Culture and Tourism of Papua Province itself targets the number of domestic and foreign tourists visiting as many as 1.3 million people in 2018. Related to this target, Angkasa Pura I as airport manager will fully support the plan and target of the government to bring tourists to the Papua 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.
"The full incentive of landing fee is expected to attract airlines to open new routes from and to Biak via Frans Kaisiepo Airport. In addition to Frans Kaisiepo Airport, full incentive landing fee is also given to airlines that open new routes at El Tari Airport Kupang and Pattimura Ambon Airport," Devya dded.
With a good collaboration between Angkasa Pura Airports as airport operators as well as the gateway to Biak, airlines as passenger carriers, tourism businesses and Government support at National and Regional levels are expected to have a positive impact on economic and tourism growth in Papua Province and Biak Numfor Region. [AD]
