Jayapura, Jubi – The government together with the indigenous people of Tahima Soroma in Kayu Pulo Village will develop a number of tourism potentials in the village ahead of the VI Indigenous Peoples Congress (KMAN) which will take place in Jayapura Regency and Jayapura City on October 24-30, 2022.
Kayu Pulo Village chief Tomi Sibi said that geographically, Kayu Pulo is located right in the center so it had promising tourism potential, be it beaches, photo spots with views of Jayapura City, and white sands on Kosong Island.
“We hope that this event will bring change to our village. Kayu Pulo will become a tourist village that can support the economy of the residents,” said Tomi Sibi on Tuesday, September 13, 2022.
Kayu Pulo Village was appointed by the National KMAN Committee as one of the 12 congress locations. Of the 12 villages, two villages are located in Jayapura City, namely Kayu Pulo Village and Enggros Village, while the other 10 villages are located in Jayapura Regency.
According to Tomi Sibi, the event will provide an opportunity for indigenous people to promote tourism potential in the village of 624 people.
“Our village will be the location of the workshop. This activity has great potential for us to show our tourist spots, there are huts, white sand beaches on Pulau Kosong, and a tourist bridge at the end of the village for photo spots, there are cages managed by residents, as well as tourist attraction up on the hill,” he said.
Meanwhile, the ondoafi (leader) of Tahima Soroma Kayu Pulo, Nikolas Youwe, said he supported the congress and workshops to be held in Kayu Pulo to develop the community and turn the village into a tourist attraction.
“The community are ready to welcome guests who will come to our village. Later if KMAN participants return to their area, they will tell stories about Kayu Pulo Village,” said Nikolas Youwe.
Chairman of the KMAN VI Committee of Jayapura City Evert Merauje acknowledged that the appointment of Kayu Pulo and Enggros villages as the location of the workshop would indirectly promote the tourism potential in the village, and this was a good breakthrough in exploring and promoting tourism in Jayapura City.
“Someday, after this KMAN activity, these two villages will become ecotourism villages, and we will encourage them to keep rising and be even better in the future,” Merauje said. (*)
