Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno said product differentiation would become a way to increase qualified tourists visit to rest areas.
“If there are several products that are different from each other, it will increase sales and will be remembered by visitors. Later this rest area will be a memorable spot,” Uno said at the 229B Kanci – Pejagan Toll Road Rest Area in Cirebon District, West Java Province on Saturday (Jan 22).
For this matter, the minister urges the local creative economy players to create product differentiation for 30 kiosks in the 229B Rest Area.
In addition, he offered training to local creative economy players through the National Culinary Breakdown Program (BEDAKAN).
The program is expected to help the local community near the Rest Area to be able to produce local handicrafts such as prayer mats and Cirebon sarongs. So the people who visit the rest area not only pray, eat, go to the toilet, or take a rest but also purchase local products to increase the local community’s welfare.
In addition, to develop various creative products to increase tourist visits, related stakeholders at the rest area can hold cultural arts, performing arts, music, and folk cinema.
“We can encourage innovation at rest areas to create more business opportunities and employment opportunities for tourism and creative economy players,” Uno conveyed.
The manager of the 229B Rest Area Teguh Pribadi stated that from 31,000 vehicles passing on the Kanci-Pejagan Toll Road, some 18 percent of them visited the rest area. Pribadi hoped that the tourists visit can increase by 25 percent.
“Most of the rest area visitors do not buy various creative products because of the COVID-19 pandemic which weakens people’s purchasing power. They just rest in this facility by bringing their own mats and food,” he added.
Source: Antara News