PEKANBARU (CAKAPLAH) - Riau tourism continues to improve and rise from adversity due to the Covid-19 pandemic. One of the strategies implemented is to boost tourism human resources (HR) through coaching activities.

The Riau Province Tourism Office has never stopped providing training and coaching to tourism and creative economy actors in the "Lancang Kuning Malay Land".

This is in line with the commitment of the Governor of Riau Syamsuar to realize Malay culture as an umbrella for the country and develop competitive tourism.

The Riau Tourism Office recently has provided guidance to the tourism and creative economy actor that was held on Thursday (24/3) at Tanjung Lapin Beach, North Rupat District, Bengkalis Regency.

The theme of coaching activity is "Menuju Rupat Sebagai Beranda Pariwisata Indonesia” (Lead Up Rupat As The Veranda of Indonesia Tourism). The event focus on discussing the typical Riau souvenirs and the creativity/business of the community economy around the tourist attraction. Then it includes digital promotions in making tour packages and determining products that are worth selling.

The target participants for this coaching are business actors in the fields of culinary, craft, fashion, performing arts, films, and homestay managers who are part of the tourism village management element.

Rupat Island was chosen as the location for the activity, because it is an outermost island, which is directly adjacent to Malaysia, and has been designated as a national tourism strategic area (KSPN) and a provincial tourism strategic area (KSPP).

The head of the Riau Tourism Office, Roni Rakhmat, said that although the tourism sector is currently still in the midst of a pandemic that will lead to a COVID-19 endemic, tourism actors in Riau keep adapting to new habits together. They will always obey government rules and policies in implementing health protocols.

"This condition is a challenge for tourism actors to revive the economy through the tourism and creative sector. For this reason, Riau Tourism Office conducts guidance, increases creativity and the economy of the people of Bengkalis Regency, especially on Rupat Island," said Roni Rakhmat, Friday (25/3/2022).

Roni said that the world of tourism was closely related to entrepreneurship and the creative industry. Communities around tourist objects must have high creativity to stimulate tourist destinations.

"If the community around the tourist attraction has creativity, innovative products will be created. Therefore, they can provide added value and higher competitiveness and are able to provide benefits to local residents," added Roni.

He hopes that the tourism industry players will continue to hone their abilities to become tourism people who are tourism-aware, creative, productive, and innovative.

"So it can be a driving force for the local economy," he said.

The development of creativity and economic business which was held by The Riau Tourism Office involved 30 participants from 5 tourist villages on Rupat Island. Meanwhile, the souvenir coaching participants involved 30 participants from 12 regencies/cities in Riau.

The results of this activity are expected to be representative tourist destinations equipped with A3 elements (Attractions, Amenities and Accessibility), with information that is easily obtained packaged in the form of tour packages.

Author : Release

Editor : Yusni

Category : Government, Riau