Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno supports the development of conservation-based tourism in West Bali National Park (TNBB).
This support was conveyed by Sandiaga Uno after receiving a report from the Head of the West Bali National Park, Agus Ngurah Krisna Kepakisan, and Jembrana Regent I Nengah Tamba during a series of working visits to the district.
In particular, he highlighted and saluted the conservation of the endangered Bali starling. “Conservation is being done the Bali Starling here is extraordinary, so that the animal is protected from extinction,” he said.
Based on reports obtained, initially in the wild, only six Bali starlings remained, while in captivity there were 50 tails. “Now there are 560 in nature. That’s a great development. Therefore even if TNBB is used as a tourist object, it must be based on conservation because here there are rare birds that are protected,” he said.
The Head of TNBB Agus Ngurah Krisna Kepakisan said, in the last few years Bali starlings breeding in nature exceeded the target. “Those in the wild originally came from captive release. Now it has started to breed in nature and the numbers exceeded our targets and estimates,” he said.
To keep the number from shrinking, he admitted, his party carried out strict supervision by involving the public. “We provide education to the public if the Bali Starling is a protected animal that is endangered,” he said.
The Bali Starling, said Regent I Nengah Tamba, is an icon of Jembrana Regency, so his party is very supportive of various conservation efforts.
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Parekraf Ecosystem
During his visit, Minister Sandiaga Uno asked the Jembrana Regency Government, Bali to prepare an ecosystem tourism and creative economy.
“Jembrana Regency will be crossed by the Denpasar-Gilimanuk toll road which is targeted for completion in 2025. This will have a major impact on Jembrana’s economy and tourism, because of that, the ecosystem must be prepared so that this district is ready when the toll road is completed,” he said.
According to him, Jembrana tourism has been constrained by the long distance from Denpasar. But with the highway, then the mileage will be cut so that it will be easier for tourists to visit this area. “We are optimistic tourist visits here will soar. Therefore, all parties must be ready,” he said.
The implementation of transportation services is expected to be able to provide a safe, comfortable and safe travel experience fun for tourists and similar things, of course, we also hope that tourist destination managers can create. “For that, we need support from various parties to jointly maintain the safety of tourists and anticipate transportation accidents and tourist rides,” he said.
While in Jembrana, Sandiaga carried out a number of activities related to tourism and the creative economy namely visiting a weaving house and inaugurating the all-in-one circuit in Pengambengan Village, Negara District, one of them its function is as a makepung arena which is a typical Jembrana buffalo race.