Banjarbaru - General Manager of Syamsudin Noor Airport, Handy Heryudhitiawan along with group of Corporate Social Responsibility Section visited Loksado a tourist site located in Kabupaten Hulu Sungai Selatan, South Kalimantan (14/08/2016). The trip took about four hours is not only aimed to see directly the tourism potential which already quite popular for foreign tourists but even also used to talk with village leaders and residents related to the development of the tourist sites.
“Environmental development is one of the programs of PT Angkasa Pura I (Persero), especially Syamsudin Noor Airport to develop the potentials of a certain area. We saw Loksado has a strong attraction for the visitors, but it is less developed. As for example, to reach this place, we passed the road with unclear signs.” said General Manager, Handy Heryudhitiawan.
In front of about 15 residents attended in the verandah of tourism area, the management asked for the residents to share ideas to develop the potentials of Loksado tourism and socialize the provisions of proposal of loans for the assisted partners, a program to facilitate SMEs to be more advanced and independent.
“PT Angkasa Pura I (Persero) has funds of partnership program to support SMEs with low administrative charge at 6% with a payback period of up to three years. In July ago, we have disbursed more than 450 million rupiah to 23 SMEs existing in South Kalimantan.” said Handy Heryudhitiawan.
Furthermore, the administrative charge later will be returned to the partners for programs such as exhibition of products up to internships outside the island. For example Budi Bauntung an assisted partner who in the last year followed an exhibition in Batam. In that exhibition, he could reach profit of 33 million.
Related to internship, General Manager of Syamsudin Noor Airport expressed “We provide a free internship program to the assisted partners, such as this year our assisted partners were sent to Bali to learn from craft-making process up to marketing. All expenses paid by PT Angkasan Pura I.” he explained.
The residents welcomed well this socialization by asking questions actively and sharing how they wish to promote their region through existing tourism potential.
“All this time there is no tourism development program that goes into Loksado. Though it is very promising, many tourists are already here especially on weekends, as today 5 Korean people visited here.” said Khairul Sadiqin.
“In Loksado actually also requires public toilet facilities because its presence is very important for the comfort of visitors. Do not let the beautiful atmosphere here become not attractive anymore just because there are no facilities to support them.” add Khairul Sadiqin.”
Related to the potentials of Human Resources and its activities, Khairul Sadiqin explained that about 2,000 residents, the majority had a job as a manufacturer of cinnamon. Even they have been able to make cinnamon syrup although in simple way. It is also supported by rubber plantation.
From some of the places visited such as Balai Adat Malaris, residents’ houses that produce cinnamon, cinnamon syrup, up to Riam Hanai waterfalls, the group of Syamsudin Noor Airport amazed with all the existing potentials.
“The people outside South Kalimantan should know this place and visit it. What have we got from this visit will be evaluated and hopefully it can help to develop it.” said Handy Heryudhitiawan.
