Visit Indonesia Year 2008: Papua

Visit Papua is part of Visit Indonesia campaign.

Foreign tourists would be interested in visiting Indonesia if they knew the country had a clear concept of ecotourism development. The ecotourism program has moved on time to time including in the Papua province. However the federal government of Indonesia and Papua special autonomy authority should take serious efforts in improving facilities such as choice of transportation, accomodation, tourist guide, tourism information, etc.

Another important  develoment that should be done by the government is to create a friendly and warm welcome atmosphere in Papua. We should start to see Papua not as a problem. Papua is a very beautiful land that all people from every corner of the world can enjoy. Most importanly is the capacity building of all Papuan and other ethnic group live in Papua to be ready to interact with foreign tourist. Visit Papua campaign is the answer in the context of promoting Papua and West Papua tourism.

So please save your energy and stay away from conflict. In one side, we should watch closely Indonesian Military attitude and by support from civil society movement we should push the reform agenda of the TNI. On another side we should also keep alert on the OPM (Free Papua Organization) terror and provocative propaganda.

Visit Indonesia Year was a New Order Indonesia inaugurated series of years of promoting Indonesia to the world tourism industry.

The 2008 Visit Indonesia campaign is the last major campaign was that launched to commemorate 100 years of Indonesian National Awakening in 1908. Celebration of 100th Anniversary of National Awakening. During this campaign the logo of stylized colorful curves of Garuda was introduced.

To succeed in the Visit Indonesia Year 2008 event abroad, Indonesia participated in the world’s largest tourism exhibition, International Tourism Bourse (ITO) in Berlin.