goodmorningpapua.com – A tourism observer from the General Sudirman University (Unsoed) Chusmeru said that the implementation of the National Sports Week or PON XX in Papua was the right momentum to arouse tourism in the area.
“This is the right momentum to further boost the tourism sector in Papua,” he said in Purwokerto, Banyumas, Monday (27/9/2021).
Because, he said, the national sports event will be attended by more than 7,000 athletes plus officials.
“Moreover, if the organizing committee and the Papuan Provincial Government set PON activities up in a sport tourism package,” he said.
Therefore, he said, the Papuan provincial government needs to work on the national sports celebration with a sports tourism strategy.
“A number of things can be done so that Papuan tourism can be affected by this PON activity. The first step is of course to guarantee security and comfort for all athletes and groups to visit tourist objects and attractions in Papua,” he said.
Second, given that PON is still being held in a COVID-19 pandemic situation, it is necessary to implement strict health protocols for every PON participant while at a tourist attraction. Likewise, tourism managers and workers in Papua also apply strict health protocols.
Thus, he said, athletes can stay healthy when competing, visiting tourism places, and when returning to their respective regions.
Third, the Papua Provincial Government needs to immediately prepare human resources in the tourism sector who are ready to serve PON athletes with service standards for tourists.
“Fourth, the arrangement of tourist objects and attractions needs to be done immediately. Papua has natural tourist objects that are still natural. It remains only to develop tourism places such as cultural arts, culinary arts, and handicrafts for tourist offerings,” he said.
Fifth, cooperation with travel agents needs to be established immediately to create a tour package combining elements of sports, nature, and Papuan culture.
Thus, every athlete competing in a particular sport can continue to travel after the match is over.