Belitung’s Ambitious Pursuit of Carbon-Free Status to Lead Green Tourism
Belitung is boldly embarking on a highly ambitious and transformative journey to achieve coveted carbon-free island status.
This initiative is a major and highly visible component of a larger national push for low-emission development and significantly improved clean air quality across Indonesia.
It was recently confirmed by Belitung District Head Djoni Alamsyah Hidayat.
This audacious move is strategically intended to immediately position the island as a recognized national and regional leader in the burgeoning green tourism market.
Belitung’s strategic importance is underscored by its designation as one of the top 10 tourism destinations explicitly prioritized by President Prabowo Subianto.
This confirms its significant role in Indonesia’s future economic and environmental growth agenda.
Hidayat further noted that, beyond being one of the 10 presidential tourism priority cities, Belitung is also prominently listed among 50 national priority cities, emphasizing its multifaceted strategic value.
Over the past six months, the district government has been actively collaborating with the National Urban Development Project (NUDP) and Integrated City Planning (ICP).
The goal is to meticulously design a comprehensive, long-term development blueprint.
This strategic plan envisions Belitung not merely as a conventional tourist destination but as a modern, economically productive, and environmentally friendly city.
It successfully harmonizes robust economic growth with the preservation of both its rich cultural heritage and pristine natural environment, setting a new national standard for genuine green tourism.
Slogan Reflecting an Unwavering Commitment to Clean Air and Health
The entire comprehensive drive toward successfully becoming a carbon-free island is thoughtfully encapsulated in a memorable and powerful new slogan.
It is designed to effectively communicate Belitung’s unwavering commitment to its environment and the clear health benefits it proactively offers to all visitors and residents.
“We are also preparing to make Belitung a carbon-free island. That’s why our slogan is, ‘Live one day in Belitung, gain one extra hour of life,’” stated Hidayat.
He explained that the slogan is a direct, accurate reflection of the island’s exceptionally high standard of clean air quality.
This quality is already widely considered among the absolute best in all of Indonesia.
It is also meant to convey the collective community commitment to fiercely protect and preserve this invaluable natural resource for generations to come.
The deep emphasis on providing clean air and promoting public health further reinforces the island’s unique and highly attractive proposition within the competitive and rapidly emerging green tourism market.
This appeals to environmentally conscious travelers worldwide.
With robust backing firmly secured from the central government and crucial support guaranteed from local communities, Hidayat confidently expressed his belief that Belitung is well on track to emerge as an undeniable national model for sustainable, environmentally responsible, and culturally rich tourism development.
He stressed that the island’s dual designation as both a national and tourism priority city sends a clear and unambiguous signal about its increasingly important role in driving Indonesia’s future development and pioneering a form of green tourism that is truly inclusive and beneficial for all stakeholders.
Pioneering Inclusive Development and Sustainable Economic Growth
Belitung’s vital inclusion in the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) as a strategic city means it is explicitly expected to serve as a key engine for driving new, sustainable economic growth.
This is through a concerted and strategic focus on three primary, interlocking areas: tourism, environmental sustainability, and the creative industries.
This holistic and integrated approach ensures that the island’s development is not only rapid and efficient but also inherently inclusive and specifically targeted.
It ensures it delivers genuine and tangible benefits directly back to the local communities that steward the land.
Hidayat emphasized the intrinsic motivation behind this direction, stating, “This is our motivation to accelerate inclusive, targeted development that truly benefits local communities and respects the environment.”
By focusing intently on low-emission practices and actively working toward becoming a carbon-free zone, Belitung is purposefully differentiating itself in the highly competitive regional tourism market.
It appeals directly to the growing and lucrative segment of travelers who are primarily interested in authentic green tourism experiences.
The comprehensive long-term blueprint aims to create a harmonious environment where sustainable economic prosperity is seamlessly integrated with the rigorous preservation of natural beauty.
This establishes a successful, repeatable, and globally recognized model for other Indonesian regions to confidently follow in their own pursuit of sustainable development and a high-quality, ecologically sound environment for both residents and visitors.
