JAYAPURA - The Papua Provincial Government appreciates the residents of Rhepang Muaif, Nimbokrang, Jayapura Regency, who independently maintain the preservation of the habitat of birds of paradise so that they can enjoy their habitat in the wild.

The hard work of the residents was also appreciated by the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Agency, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno who immediately inaugurated Rhepang Muaif Village, Jayapura Regency, as one of the top 50 best tourist villages at the 2024 Indonesian Tourism Village Award (ADWI).

"So we hope that this natural charm must be maintained by involving more widely. So that the designation as a tourist village will have a valuable impact for the local community, especially economic growth," explained the Head of the Papua Provincial Communication and Information Service Jeri Agus Yudianto in Jayapura, Friday.

According to Jeri, the Papua Provincial Government will continue to encourage the presence of tourist villages in Papua to accelerate economic growth and improve the welfare of the local community.

Papua is rich in natural products, it is appropriate for people in rural areas to take advantage of natural potentials.

"Like Rhepang Muaif, it is one of the 50 best tourist villages in Indonesia."

"This means that with the presence of this tourist village, it can also be an opportunity to reduce the number of poverty and of course hopefully it can encourage other villages in Papua to do the same," he said.

On that occasion, Jeri also gave his highest appreciation to the Central Government, in this case, the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy who initiated the awarding and more specifically to the Jayapura Regency Government. ***