Activities

Conservation areas in Indonesia have the opportunities and potentials for tourism investment that could provide multiplier effect for various stakeholders. However, tourism investment business in conservation area often associated to consensus of negative, damaging and massive development. What kind of acceptable tourism business investments in the conservation areas in order to anticipate conflicting with the importance of environmental conservation, but also provides opportunities, profits and advantages to the development of tourism business, economic aspects, and to contribute to SMEs development synergies, surrounding community involvement and the achievement of social goals and development?

DESMA Center asked the public audiences to discuss this issue in the second part of the sustainable tourism webinar series titled: “Tourism Business Investment in the Conservation Areas” on Friday, 28 August 2020. The discussion aims to identify the opportunities and challenges of tourism business investment in the conservation areas by contributing to the principles of sustainable development.

This webinar was attended by the distinguished keynote speaker Ir. Wiratno, M.Sc, Director General of Conservation on Natural Resources and Ecosystem, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry who highlighted challenges related to tourism investors who invested in the conservation areas. It is expected that the investors should implement the existing regulation and to prevent damage to the areas. Other outstanding speakers are:

1.     Dr. Nandang Prihadi, S. Hut., M. Sc, Director of Environmental Services Utilization on Conservation Forest, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, discussed about private investments possible to be carried out in the utilization zones of conservation areas (National Parks, Nature Tourism Parks, and TAHURA). Where there is a site designated into two objectives, the business area (private investment) and public area (for the community and management). It is important to ensure the division is proportional to the private investment, local community involvement, and management interests by regional stakeholders. He also highlighted It needs sustainability commitments in the management of natural tourism in conservation areas;

2.     Drs. Ardi Hermawan, MA, Director of Investment Management, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, discussed the tourism business development strategies which consists of three steps, profiling, promotion, and advocacy;

3.     Dr. Putra Kaban, SH, MH., Director of PT. Graha Rani Putra Persada who is also the Head of the Indonesian Nature Tourism Entrepreneurs Association, discussed about several principles of Tangkuban Perahu Mountain Nature Park development, the achievements of the management of PT. GRPP from Tangkuban Perahu Mountain Natural Tourism Park, and encouraged the government to concern about substances related to permit sanctions, and encourage the existing and future investors to not “cross the line” in managing tourism activities in the conservation areas;

4.     Drs. Teguh Hartono as a consultant and nature tourism activist talked about his experience while facilitating IUPSWA and IUPJWA in conservation areas and emphasized tourism businesses investment strategies in conservation areas to be appropriately develop.

This webinar is moderated by Mr. Taufik Imansyah, Trans 7 anchor and as an alumnus of STP NHI Bandung who has deep understanding on tourism issues.

In the end of this IUWKK webinar, it is concluded that tourism investment in the conservation areas has the potentialities of bringing the opportunity for developing tourism business which contribute to the economic and conservation advantages. Tourism investment is open and possible for investors who intend to invest in the business tourism. However, the investors should fulfil to the existing regulations, policies and the strict requirements, therefore the tourism investment will prevent to damage the conservation areas and provide benefit to local community and SMEs. Tourism investment activities should take a place in the utilization zone and must apply the sustainability principles with the objective to provide positive impact to the environment and community.