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S. Kalimantan looks to tourism to replace mining in driving economy
South Kalimantan Governor Rudy Resnawan said on Monday that the mining sector contributed 31 percent to the regional GDP in 2018, while tourism’s contribution stood at 20 percent.
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Deputy South Kalimantan Governor Rudy Resnawan talks to the press on Monday. (JP/Riza Roidila Mufti)
S
outh Kalimantan is pinning high hopes on its tourism sector in the future as a replacement for the mining sector as the province’s core economic driver.
Deputy South Kalimantan Governor Rudy Resnawan said on Monday that the mining sector contributed 31 percent to the regional GDP in 2018, while tourism’s contribution stood at 20 percent.
"Mining is an unrenewable natural resource and someday it will be gone. What will we do when it’s gone? Tourism is the most promising sector to be developed for now to replace mining, especially since we actually have the potential in tourism as long as it can be managed better,” Rudy told the press on the sidelines of South Kalimantan’s 2020 Calendar of Events launch in Jakarta.
Rudy hopes that tourism’s contribution could amount to 60 percent of South Kalimantan’s GDP.
However, he acknowledged that the province was still not well enough known as a major tourism destination. He looked to other emerging tourism destinations such as Banyuwangi in East Java as an example of a city that could successfully develop its tourism sector.
"We need better management, including better branding and marketing. We hope for guidance from the Tourism Ministry on what is the best strategy to liven up our tourism in the future," said Rudy.
As a tourism destination, South Kalimantan has several notable attractions such as Lok Baintan traditional floating market located in Banjar regency, two hours’ drive from the provincial capital of Banjarmasin. The province also has a number of tourist destinations such as Samber Gelap ecotourism site, nature tourism in Loksado and Daya Halong tourism village.
