Seychelles promotes eco-culture tourism in Kutai Kartanegara, Indonesia – eTurboNews

Seychelles recently organized the visit of 15 youths and students from 8 countries to Kutai Kartanegara in East Kalimantan as part of its effort to help promote compassionate destinations of eco-culture in Indonesia.

Seychelles Special Envoy for ASEAN, Mr. Nico Barito, said the youth and students came from France, the Netherlands, Japan, Liberia, Madagascar, Belgium, Dominican Republic, and Italy.

Such initiative is spearheaded by Saint Ange Consultancy of the former Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports & Marine of Seychelles, Mr. Alain St.Ange, whom has included the Indonesian local cultures in the annual Carnival International de Victoria in Seychelles since 2011, said Nico Barito.

The initial 10-day itinerary from April 27 to May 5, 2017 has provided the international youth with excursion to various local destinations of eco-culture, mingled with local people.

The program gave economic benefits to local people, particularly homestay owners, restaurants, tourist guides, cultural activists, and handicraft traders, and has offered local youths rare opportunities to interact with youths from other countries, said Mrs. Rita Widyasari, the local premier of Kutai Kartanegara.

Mrs. Rita added that 2017 has been declared as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism by the United Nations, and Kutai Kartanegara is proud to participate and focus to promote tourists with the protection of the environment and culture and empowerment of women and youths as part of its program to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG).

The program, which was coordinated through FORSEAA Forum of Small Medium Economic AFRICA ASEAN, would continue to bring international tourists, especially youths who want to explore nature adventure and eco-culture in Indonesia, said Mr. Rega, the Program Officer of FORSEAA in Indonesia.

He also said that FORSEAA will replicate the Kutai Kartanegara program for the development of culture tourism within other local governments of Indonesia.

Developing tourist destinations is like the question of what comes first the chicken or the egg. Our experience in Seychelles shows that when destinations are well promoted, tourists would come and the development of infrastructure and world-class accommodation would follow suit, Nico Barito said.

The Minister of Tourism of Kabupaten Kutai Kartenegara, Sri Wahyuni, introduced eco-culture tourism at the Regent.

The International Youth Excursion Eco Culture from 8 countries were accommodated with local tribes at a home stay in Lekaq Kidau Cultural Village.

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Seychelles promotes eco-culture tourism in Kutai Kartanegara, Indonesia - eTurboNews