Belitung (ANTARA) – Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Unoon Sunday joined the Belitung Heritage City Walk Street Carnival to promote the tourism potential of the Island of Belitung, Bangka Belitung Islands Province.”We hope that the tourism (activities) in Belitung will stimulate locals’ economy,” he said in Tanjung Pandan, Belitung District, on Sunday. ccording to the minister, as many as 15 thousand people participated in the carnival that he believed as the biggest in terms of number of participants during the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. “We can gather with approximately 15 thousand people that maybe the biggest number in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era,” he noted. Minister Uno also made the most of the carnival to heed the voices of local residents. He said the residents are eager to see the country’s economy get improved, staple good pricesmore affordable, and more job opportunities available. “I can see that the community is keen to collaborate with the government to realize a sustainable development,” he stated. Unosaid the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy is makingutmost efforts to tap into the potential of 10 priority tourist destinations, which include the Belitung Island. He added that the ministry is pushing parties to reactivate direct international flights to the island. Uno then encouraged stakeholders in Bangka Belitung Islands to make the most of the opportunities emerged following the 43rd ASEAN Summit that will take place in Jakarta on September 5-7, under Indonesia’s ASEANchairmanship this year. “Bangka Belitung should seize the opportunities by attracting the ASEAN Summit’s delegates to extend their stay (in Indonesia) to visit Belitung,” he affirmed. Furthermore, he also highlighted the better air quality on the Island compared to that of Jakarta saying that the delegates can experience fatigue-healing experience on Belitung. “We will add more flights, so they can enjoy Belitung,” he stated.

Source: Antara News Agency