Indonesia is aiming to become the best fishing tourism destination in the world.
Dwisuryo Indroyono Soesilo, the Tourism Ministry’s marine tourism development acceleration team head, said that the Indonesian ministry is collaborating with the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry to host the 2018 Indonesia Fishing Tournament.
“The first event of the tournament will be held in Banggai, Central Sulawesi, in the near future. We have also set the fishing zone in Banggai to be promoted as a fishing tourism site,” Soesilo said.
Soesilo is hopeful that the tournament would herald developing fishing tourism as an activity with economic value. “We are finalizing the draft of the Recreational Fishing Guide,” he said.
The government has started mapping potential marine tourism destinations where activities like diving, kayaking, snorkeling and surfing could be developed.
The Tourism Law states that fishing tourism is a marine tourism product. However, its development is considered slow, especially compared to diving tourism, with spots in Indonesia recognized as world class.
Last year, the country hosted the 2017 Widi International Fishing Tournament on Widi Island, South Halmahera regency, North Maluku. Around 1,500 people took part in the tournament, with 175 coming from Japan, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and the United States.
