Pariaman To Develop Cultural Tourism Village

Pariaman, (Antara Sumbar) - The Government of Pariaman Municipality, West Sumatra will develop the whole village into a Cultural Tourism Village to support tourism sector in the area.

"Each village can develop and explore the potential of tourism but it needs to be focused on the cultural sector, it is in line with Pariaman mission," Pariaman Mayor Mukhlis Rahman said in Pariaman on Tuesday during a coordination meeting with the village head.

He said the concept of cultural tourism village are lifts, revives and reintroduces various native cultures that are worth selling.

According to him if the concept of cultural tourism village can be developed, then Pariaman has its own attraction in the province.

For example, he said, villages in the coastal areas can develop cultural tourism life of fishermen such as the tradition of "Maelo Pukek".

Then another example, he said, the village located in East Pariaman Sub-district can develop a cultural tourism community of farmers with a variety of local handicrafts.

"There are various kinds of regional culture that can actually be worked out more leverage, therefore the village should be able to think how to use it," he said.

Moreover, he said, the whole village has been assisted with allocation of village funds reaching Rp1 billion per year.

There is a total of Rp89.5 billion of village funds sourced from the State Budget (APBN) and the Regional Budget (APBD) in 2017 for Pariaman.

"Each village receives Rp1 billion more, the budget can be used for the development of cultural tourism village," he said.

He asked the Village Community Empowerment Office (DPMD) and the Office of Culture and Tourism of Pariaman City to coordinate as soon as possible with all village units.

In addition, it also confirmed that it would not give permission to the village apparatus to go on a comparative study of tourism before drafting the concept.

"This is not a negative intervention but there is no point in going to a comparative study if there is no clear concept," he said.

Meanwhile, Village Head of Padang Biriak-Biriak, North Pariaman Sub-district, Devi Delwandri said it plans to develop a lagoon tourism area to support local community's economy.

"Approximately one kilometer long Laguna, and considered suitable for development of water parks with the concept of Islamic tourism," he added.

But he said, it is constrained on the administration of the region and development budget of the tourism area. (cha)

Editor: Vicha Faradika