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Cross-border coordinating meeting highlights Bintan's success story
"If Bintan can do it, so can Sangihe in North Sulawesi."
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Tropical beach landscape with a leaning palm tree on Bintan Island. (Shutterstock/File)
A cross-border coordinating meeting was recently held in Bali from August 14 to 15.
The meeting was joined by National Border Management Authority (BNPP), Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Regional Tourism Boards, the Immigration office, Finance Ministry’s budget directorate general, the National Police, tourism boards from cross-border provinces and 31 tourism boards from cities and regencies in cross-border areas.
The highlight of the meeting was the success story of Bintan who has successfully conducted plenty of sport-related cross-border events such as IRONMAN, Bintan Triathlon, Tour de Bintan, Golf Asia Challenge, Moon Run Festival and Reebok Spartan Race Bintan.
All these events managed to attract tourists from Singapore, Australia, France, Thailand, United Kingdom and other European countries to come to Bintan.
“This is amazing, if Bintan can do it, so can Sangihe in North Sulawesi that is adjacent to the Philippines,” said Sangihe tourism department head, Jefri Tilaar.
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“I feel more motivated, apparently there are other areas that can host world-class events other than Bali. I would like to learn from Bintan, to do a comparative study with Bintan so that I can copy their success story to Bengkayang,” told Bengkayang tourism department head, Made Putra.
Bintan tourism department head, Luki Zaiman Prawira said that it was hard at the beginning to develop cross-border tourism, but with handwork and a clear concept, they managed to overcome all difficulties.
“First [tips] is expanding the already existing events, don't change the event’s name too often because the name serves as a brand. After that, don't be embarrassed to consult about the best kind of event that can be held to professionals and private event organizers,” said Luki.
Luki also suggested doing a benchmarking, to copy and modify events from other regions and overseas.
“And don’t hesitate to support private and community events that can bring in tourists,” Luki added. (asw)
