Depok-Lecturer at the Tourism Study Program, Vocational Education Program, Universitas Indonesia (UI), Dr. Diaz Pranita. MM, said that the type of special interest tourism is increasingly interested by the public, especially in the midst of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Diaz said, there are nine special interest tours that have the potential to be developed while still meeting aspects of the COVID-19 health protocol, Rural Tourism, Mountaineering and Paragliding Tourism, Marathon Sports Tourism, Yachting and Diving (diving). ), Rafting, Cave and Paramotor Tourism, Ecotourism, Ghost Tourism, and Millennial Tourism (youth tourism), as well as Volunteer Tourism.
According to her, “This type of tourism will have a more significant impact on the national economy and society than mass tourism, thus supporting the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy program.” She also recommended, to provide a better, safer and more sustainable tourism experience, tourism actors need to fulfill a number of aspects, namely limiting the number of participants, considering the carrying capacity and environmental sustainability, planning in detail, having a direct impact on the community, and supporting image creation. positive Indonesian tourism.
Her views were conveyed in an online seminar entitled Tourism E-talk Series with the general theme of Special Interest Tourism and Sports which he held as a form of community service (pengmas), throughout Saturday, from 17 October to 21 November 2020. This activity was attended by business people. tours, hundreds of students and the general public from all over Indonesia.
Diaz said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a shift from a” safety first “paradigm to a” healthy first “. Special interest tourism operators must also comply with health protocols in order to increase trust and guarantee health and comfort to tourists.
On this occasion, Diaz also invited experts to provide education related to the development of special interest tourism and sports in Indonesia. “It is hoped that this activity can provide insights to students and the Indonesian public in general regarding the normalization stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in the world of special interest tourism,” said Diaz.
The experts invited to the tourism seminar were Ghifari Y. Masyhari, Bima Saskuandra, Gendon Subandono, Ndang Mawardi, Riena Tambunan, Raymond T. Lesmana, Bayu Wardoyo, Amalia Yunita Alkantana, Cahyo Alkantana, Wiwik Mahdayani, Teguh Amor Patria, Satya Winnie , and Jonathan Thamrin. “The experts who became the resource persons were mostly involved in the preparation of the Guidelines for Cleanliness, Health, Safety and Environmental Sustainability with the label I Do Care at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy,” said Diaz.
