By: Moses Waker ) *
Currently Papua is no longer synonymous with backward regions, because the government has built a lot of infrastructure. With the trans Papua road and the Sentani international airport, community mobility will be easier. When mobility is made easier, it will improve the tourism sector, because tourists will easily move to other tourist locations.
Papua’s nature is very beautiful, but this hasn’t brought as many tourists as Bali. Even though the Cendrawasih Earth has the potential to be a tourist destination. Not only Raja Ampat, but also the Youtefa Bridge , Lorentz National Park, Puncak Trichora , etc. These places are very exotic and able to get rid of fatigue for those who visit them. Unfortunately back then there was no good road to walk.
To solve this problem and improve the tourism sector, the central government is working with the Papuan regional government to build infrastructure. Among them is the Trans Papua Road which stretches more than 4,300 kilometers and makes mobility easier, so that people and tourists can pass quickly, easily and safely.
Why is the mobility improved? Because if the infrastructure built is related to community travel, it will be very useful. When the roads are good and an international standard airport has been established, it will increase tourist visits to Papua. They will always love Papua and make it a vacation spot, because the nature is beautiful and the infrastructure is good.
Not only inviting tourists and increasing foreign exchange from the Papuan regional government, but infrastructure development is also able to improve the people’s economy. The surrounding community will be splashed with sustenance because they can sell souvenirs, Papuan specialties, etc. So that it will increase income and alleviate poverty.
President Jokowi stated that infrastructure development will improve the local economy and the standard of living for people in remote areas. If the road is good, the economy in Papua will grow faster. In that sense, smooth roads are not only beneficial for the tourism sector, but also for trade.
Business people can take advantage of the Trans Papua road to cross to other areas when delivering various ordered goods. The distance traveled will be shorter when using the trans Papua road, thus saving time, automatically reducing transportation costs. So that the price of goods will fall and benefit the people in the Papua region.
This is evident from the drop in prices for cement and other goods in Papua by up to 25%. This decrease occurred because in the past, cement had to be transported by plane if it wanted to be transported to remote areas. Meanwhile, now it can be via road, not air. Civil society is happy because the price of cement and many other goods has fallen, because of the smooth mobility in Papua.
The success of development in Papua deserves appreciation, because it proves the seriousness of the government in overcoming various problems there. Starting from modernity, equitable development, to approaching civilians when new infrastructure is being built. So that they understand that all of this is for the welfare of the people.
President Jokowi wants equality between eastern and western Indonesia. Therefore, development in the Papua region continues to be encouraged. Because only with development, there will be equality in progress between Java and Papua. Do not let the people of Cendrawasih Earth not enjoy modernity and feel injustice.
The government is promoting development in the Papua region, especially since Bumi Cendrawasih is hosting the XX PON. A lot of infrastructure was built there, including the Youtefa Bridge and the Trans Papua road. Why is mobility made easier by building roads? Because it will have a positive impact on the people’s economy, so that the Papuan people will be more prosperous.
) * The author is a Papuan student living in Gorontalo
