Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni, together with Minister of Cooperatives and Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Maman Abdurrahman, officially opened the Indonesia Outdoor Festival (Indofest) 2025, the largest outdoor exhibition in Southeast Asia, held at the Jakarta International Convention Center (JICC).
In his opening remarks, Minister Antoni welcomed the festival and encouraged visitors—many of whom are outdoor enthusiasts—to explore Indonesia’s National Parks (Taman Nasional/TN) and Nature Tourism Parks (Taman Wisata Alam/TWA).
He emphasized that Indonesia is home to 57 National Parks and 134 Nature Tourism Parks, spanning from Sabang to Merauke.
“We hope more young people will experience the breathtaking landscapes of Indonesia, its rich biodiversity of flora and fauna, and its cultural diversity through TN and TWA visits,” the Minister said.
He further explained that tourism in these conservation areas is not about mass tourism, but rather eco-tourism—with the goal of preserving nature while providing enriching experiences for visitors.
“Enjoy and appreciate our nature tourism, but do not destroy it. Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but beautiful memories—no trash!” he emphasized.
To support sustainable visitor management, the Ministry of Forestry—through the Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE)—is digitizing the ticketing system.
This initiative aims to enforce visitor quotas to maintain ecosystem capacity and financial transparency.
“We are not banning access to activities like hiking, but we are tightening quotas for ecological balance and visitor comfort,” said Antoni.
He noted that all TN and TWA locations will soon implement e-ticketing and cashless payments, with digitalization progress currently reaching 87%.
Revenues from these ticket sales (classified as Non-Tax State Revenue or PNBP) will be reinvested to restore ecosystems and improve park infrastructure.
At Indofest 2025, the Ministry also presented an exhibition booth through the Directorate of Environmental Services Utilization (PJL), showcasing eco-tourism travel packages from various TN and TWA locations.
Visitors can access conservation-based travel information, wildlife encounter activities, guided exploration routes, and environmental education programs.
A key highlight of the event was a talk show titled “Explore National and Nature Tourism Parks in Indonesia,” which served as the official launch of the “JELAJAH TN & TWA” initiative.
This program invites young people to engage directly with protected areas by experiencing the roles of Park Rangers, combining adventure, education, and conservation.
With the tagline “Exploring, Admiring, Experiencing, and Educating Travel,” the program offers selected participants the opportunity to actively participate in conservation work, create educational digital content, and raise awareness about Indonesia’s biodiversity.
Public registration is now open via the social media channels and website of PJL KSDAE (@ayoketamannasional_official on Instagram and TikTok).
The program is targeted at Indonesians aged 18–40, especially those active on social media and interested in sustainable nature tourism.
The 2025 “JELAJAH TN & TWA” program will cover seven locations across Indonesia:
- June – Baluran National Park
- July – Way Kambas / Tesso Nilo National Parks
- August – Ujung Kulon National Park
- September – Rawa Aopa Watumohai National Park
- October – Tanjung Puting National Park
- November – Laiwangi Wanggameti (Matalawa) National Park
Each selected participant will embark on a limited field trip and take part in conservation tasks, visitor service, and biodiversity education efforts. (*)
