Papua Special Autonomy is the Key to Papua Tourism Development

Chairman of the DPR RI, Puan Maharani said that the DPR RI will focus on discussing several bills that are included in the Priority National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) in 2021. One of the four bills that will be heard with the Government is the Bill on Amendments to Law Number 21 of the Year. 2001 on Special Autonomy for Papua Province.

 

The entry of the Papua Special Autonomy Bill is related to the end of the Papua Special Autonomy period volume 1 this year. The special autonomy allocation is quite large. In 2019, the Special Autonomy Fund for Papua and West Papua Provinces reached IDR 63.1 trillion. The government has stated its commitment to continue with volume 2. The revision of the Papua Special Autonomy law was a proposal from the Jokowi administration last year.

 

This shows the amount of government attention to the development of Papuan welfare. The development in Papua which has been boosted since the existence of special autonomy has made the people very satisfied. The leaders in Bumi Cendrawasih also agreed that this program should be continued. The goal is that development in Papua is more equitable. So that people's income increases.

 

“The rapid progress in Papua is a result of Special Autonomy”

 

The Otsus program, which was started in 2001, made the face of the Earth of Cendrawasih more beautiful and became a modern area, without destroying nature. One of the real benefits of Otsus can be seen in the Raja Ampat area.

 

 

Raja Ampat is one of the tourist attractions in Papua which is famous to the international community. The advancement of the tourist area is supported by the development of infrastructure on the Earth of Cendrawasih. Because cars can go quickly and safely via the Trans Papua Road. Meanwhile, foreign tourists can land at Sentani International Airport.

 

An international conservation agency report has stated that Raja Ampat waters have around 75% of marine species worldwide. In fact, the Raja Ampat sea and land area which has an area of ​​4.6 million hectares is home to 540 types of coral, 1,511 species of fish and thousands of other marine biota. Therefore, with these various advantages, it is not surprising that Raja Ampat is currently considered the most beautiful underwater paradise in the world.

 

With the richness of marine life in Raja Ampat and the support of infrastructure development in the area, it is increasingly making Raja Ampat a world-class tourist spot. This kind of achievement should be maintained and improved. Otsus Volume II is the key to the sustainable development of Raja Ampat as a world tourist destination that can provide a livelihood for the local community.

 

Kornelis Way, Maybrat community leader, stated that he and all people in West Papua support the sustainability of special autonomy. Because this program provides enormous benefits, especially for the 4 priority programs. Namely infrastructure, health, education, and community economic empowerment.

 

Apart from the tourism sector, the benefits of Otsus can be seen from other infrastructure development, such as the Trans Papua Road, Youtefa Bridge, Sentani International Airport, and others. Infrastructure development is needed, because it makes transportation easier and reduces the price of goods. The reason is that the freight costs are reduced, since they can send by road, not by air.

 

These various benefits prove that the Papua Special Autonomy provides a guarantee for the welfare of the Papuan people. With these various benefits, the Papuan people get a decent living and do not feel inequality with other Indonesians in other regions.

 

Jefferson Wenda

Papuan Observer