Manado is now approaching a critical stage when it needs to finalize its vision of the type of destination it wants to be.
he Manado International Conference on Tourism Development held last month could provide a key step forward not only for the city of Manado, but also for the broader province of North Sulawesi.
In many respects the conference was unprecedented. It was the first time that all levels of government — national, provincial, city and district — have come together to consider how tourism can drive development in the province the coming decades. A dominant theme of this Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM)-organized conference was the rapidly growing engagement with China and the role that North Sulawesi can play in the broader “One Belt One Road” (OBOR) initiative.
It is clear from the conference that Manado and the broader region of North Sulawesi represents a remarkable opportunity for tourism development. Its strategic location at the northern edge of the archipelago, allowing flight connections to the increasingly prosperous markets of Northeast Asia in just a few hours, coupled with the unique natural assets of the province, both terrestrial and underwater, makes it an attractive option for investors in the tourism sector.
This is further evidenced by the recent explosive growth in tourist arrivals, which following the advent of charter flights from China mid-2016, has more than trebled in less than a year.
As articulated in the Manado tourism roadmap prepared and presented at the conference by PwC and Broadway Malyan, there are many opportunities for investment, including in hotels, resorts, MICE facilities, eco-tourism operations and, perhaps most critically, in supporting infrastructure.
Whilst these opportunities are there, the roadmap also emphasizes that Manado is now approaching a critical stage when it needs to finalize its vision of the type of destination it wants to be and to ensure the right plans are in place to deliver the benefits of international investment in tourism and related infrastructure.
In this regard a number of key sustainability themes were widely discussed at the conference.
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