Eastjourney – Labuan Bajo and Likupang are strong candidates for the G20 Summit
in 2023. As the host of the G20 Summit Indonesia must provide a venue for this
great agenda.
However, Chairperson of the Indonesian Tourism Intellectuals Association (ICPI)
Azril Azhari explained the two destinations could not yet become an
international venue for events such as the G20 Summit.
As reported by Bisnis.com Azril said the two destinations, especially Likupang,
had not yet completed infrastructure development. He added that only Bali and
Jakarta were suitable places in Indonesia. The two locations meet requirements
both in terms of infrastructure, the provision of accommodation and other
supporting facilities.
“The suitabel place for international and large meeting events such as G20
Summit only Bali and Jakarta,” Azril said, Monday (12/09/2019).
He said some notes if the grand event was still held in Labuan Bajo and
Likupang. It starts from security, access, attractiveness, up to five
sub-indices of tourism competitiveness, namely health & hygiene, safety
& security, environmental sustainability, tourist service infrastructure
and ICT readiness.
In addition, he considered G20 Summit could be event to increase tourists.
Nevertheless he warned to remain vigilant of the negative impacts.
“If international guests are disappointed because the destination and
human resources are not ready. The effect is that they will likely not return
to the destination,” he explained.
He explained the effect because these two cities were not ready yet. There are
many things that are not yet available, especially destinations and human
resources.
“Don’t let this event make participants of the G20 Summit be very
disappointed,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Indonesian Tourism Industry Association (GIPI),
Didien Junaedy, assessed that the large agenda to be carried out by Labuan Bajo
and the Likupang KEK could be a stimulus to accelerate development in the
region. According to him this is a challenge to be able to build within the
next three years 2020-2022.
“The hotel construction is 2 years or 20 months at the fastest. In my
opinion it is good, but if it is clear the most appropriate G20 is Bali or
Jakarta,” Didien said.
According to him no negative impacts will occur. Instead the positive impact
that occurs is that these two destinations can become a tourist magnet as long
as there are efforts such as integrated promotion after the event.
“International events is only a
trigger to increase tourists. The trigger isn’t for the G20 but what’s next. That is where the
importance of intergrated promotions to sell destinations after the event,
” he said.
Indonesian Head of the Public Communication Bureau of Tourism and
Culture Ministry, Guntur Sakti, said that to host the G20 Summit was indeed one of the
government’s priorities. He said that the location of the G20 summit took place
until now the government had not yet determined.
He added, both places, both Likupang and Labuan Bajo are being considered as
the hosts of the G20 Summit. However that does not mean both of them scramble
to host because up to now there has not been decided the venue for the G20
Summit in 2023.
“Both destinations are super priority destinations whose development is
accelerated so we believe they will be ready to become a place for world class
events including the G20 Summit in 2023,” said Guntur.
