Maritime Business Forum Applauds Six Businesses for Their Conservation Efforts
Jakarta. A recent maritime-focused regional business forum among the Coral Triangle countries have granted international recognition to six entrepreneurs that have successfully integrated sustainable marine tourism practices in their operations.
The six were also lauded for their efforts to actively support the conversation of coastal areas, marine habitats and marine wildlife, and engage and support local communities in marine conservation activities.
The 4th Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) Regional Business Forum, which was held in Nusa Dua, Bali, from last Thursday through Saturday, recognized six businesses from Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste.
“Businesses in marine and coastal tourism in the Coral Triangle must receive adequate attention and commitment from all related stakeholders: governments, private sector, academia and communities. This can be in the form of support for infrastructure development, a road map for sustainable marine tourism and promotion and market access,” said M. Eko Rudianto, director of Marine and Coastal for Indonesia's Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, said in a statement obtained by The Jakarta Globe on Monday.
US Ambassador to Indonesia Robert Blake also commended the efforts of the private sector that have led the way in sustainable marine tourism across the region.
“I acknowledge the visionaries and leaders who have paved the way for sustainable marine tourism in the region and I hope more will follow your footsteps,” the ambassador said in the statement.
Blake underscored the importance of long-term vision in promoting sustainable marine tourism practices.
“It is my hope that by planting the seeds in developing the Coral Triangle as a sustainable marine tourism destination, future generations 100 years from now, will stand amongst the shores of the Coral Triangle, and be in awe of the legacy of a pristine coastal and marine environment that we will have left behind.”
Rili Djohani, executive director of the coral triangle center, said that the recognition profiles the important contributions entrepreneurs were making in reaching the goals of the Coral Triangle Initiative in ensuring that marine resources in the region are sustainably managed.
"Profiling the work of these businesses in this way will help underscore the importance for the Coral Triangle Initiative to act as a vehicle to promote equitable resource management and forging robust and resilient local communities centered around sustainable marine tourism," Rili said.
The winners, which were chosen from 12 nominees submitted by various organizations across the Coral Triangle, are Bali's Reef Seen Divers' Resort; Malaysia's Scuba Junkie; PNG's Madang Resort Hotel; the Philippines' Evolution Diving; Oravae Cottage in Solomon Islands; and Dive Timor Lorosae in Timor-Leste.
The event was attended by more than 300 participants from over 20 countries, including high-ranking government officials, such as Malaysia's Minister of Tourism and Culture, Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz; the Solomon Islands' Minister of Tourism, Bartholomew Parapolo; and Honorary Adviser to Minister of Tourism in Indonesia, Indroyono Soesilo.
The event was hosted by the Indonesia Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Marina Affairs and Fisheries, and co-organized by the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat, US Agency for International Development, the US Department of the Interior, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Coral Triangle Center.
It also received the full support of the WWF, The Nature Conservancy, Administration, the Coral Triangle Center, and supported by WWF, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, Tone, XL Axiata and BNI.
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