Bappenas: Penyengat Island has potential to become an orange economy zone
Tanjungpinang (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) has stated that Penyengat Island in Tanjungpinang City, Riau Islands (Kepri) province, has the potential to become a development zone for an orange economy based on Malay culture.
“The orange economy on Penyengat Island could be quite promising if managed well. Kepri could serve as an example,” said Uke Mohammad Hussein, Director of Productivity Enhancement and Thematic Development Planning at Bappenas, during his visit to Tanjungpinang on Friday.
Uke explained that the orange economy refers to an economic sector based on creativity, culture, arts, and innovation, which transforms intellectual assets into jobs and profits.
He noted that Kepri, particularly Penyengat Island, possesses strong cultural and creative economy elements that can be developed more optimally.
According to him, the potential of Penyengat Island’s historical and cultural assets has not yet fully impacted the strengthening of the tourism economy in the area.
Nevertheless, he appreciated the various improvements to the historical cultural area that have been continuously carried out by the central and local governments in recent years.
“Alhamdulillah, there has been much progress. Now, we just need to find spaces that can still be developed so that the impact is even greater,” he said.
Uke further stated that Penyengat Island currently has a good cultural narrative and tourism packages.
Therefore, tourism promotion and marketing need to be strengthened so that the existing historical and cultural potential can add value to the area’s economic growth.
“There is already storytelling and tourism packages; now the promotion just needs to be expanded further,” he said.
He added that Bappenas is also encouraging the strengthening of Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) to support sustainable tourism destination management. DMOs consist of government, the private sector, and community groups, making destination management stronger.
In addition, his side also wants to involve the Directorate of Western Indonesia Development in the development of the Penyengat Island area.
“We will coordinate with the Directorate of Cultural Advancement to support culture-based area development,” he said.
Riono, Head of the Tanjungpinang City Bappelitbang, said the city government continues to strengthen the cultural sector and creative economy as one of the drivers of local economic growth.
According to him, Tanjungpinang not only has Malay cultural and Islamic religious tourism but also a variety of other historical and cultural destinations.
“We don’t just have Penyengat and Malay culture associated with Islam, but we also have temples over 300 years old and the Statue of a Thousand,” he said.
Besides the tourism sector, he said, the strengthening of the creative economy is also supported by the presence of local SMEs. Data from the Tanjungpinang City Government records that the number of micro-businesses in 2025 will reach 15,003 units, dominated by the culinary sector.
Riono also appreciated Bappenas’s visit to Tanjungpinang, which is hoped to support the development of the local cultural, tourism, and creative economy sectors.
“Hopefully, this can help strengthen the local economy, especially through the cultural and tourism sectors,” Riono concluded.