East Kalimantan Boosts 3T Ecotourism Through Infrastructure Access

The East Kalimantan Provincial Government is boosting ecotourism growth in 3T (underdeveloped, frontier, outermost) regions through improved infrastructure access, including land roads, river transport, electricity services, communication, and digitalisation, to increase visitor numbers. “The ecotourism potential in East Kalimantan is vast, in West Kutai and Mahakam Ulu regencies for example, there are several beautiful destinations such as waterfalls and Batu Dinding. The locations are remote, so the provincial government is providing supporting infrastructure,” said Head of the East Kalimantan Tourism Office Ririn Sari Dewi in Samarinda on Tuesday. Infrastructure support in West Kutai and Mahakam Ulu is focused on opening up isolated areas while supporting sustainable tourism, such as the 136-kilometre Tering–Ujoh Bilang road section, of which 90 kilometres have been completed with a target finish by 2027, using the East Kalimantan regional budget of Rp90 billion for 2026. There is also a tourism ring road involving improvements to access roads to destinations such as Mount S, Lake Jempang, Ngereng Cave, and Linggang Purwodadi in West Kutai, including hardening and paving of village tourism connecting roads to facilitate both two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles. Other forms of support, she said, include providing electricity services through the state electricity company PLN network and centralised solar power plants, as well as digital communication networks to ease tourism service operations. She explained that various facilities will continue to be pursued, such as information centres, accommodation, and safe routes. These three elements serve as the foundation so that natural, cultural, and ecotourism potential can be enjoyed by visitors while boosting the local community’s economy. “Tourism and the creative economy are strategic sectors that can drive economic growth, create jobs, increase people’s incomes, and strengthen regional cultural identity,” Ririn said during a tourism talk in Samarinda. The talk was attended by Hendri Kurniawan, Chairman of the East Kalimantan Indonesian Hotel General Manager Association, Dian Rosita, Chairwoman of the East Kalimantan Indonesian Recreation Park Business Association, and Anas Maghfur, Chairman of the East Kalimantan Indonesian Fashion Chamber. “East Kalimantan’s tourism and creative economy will continue to advance through cross-sector synergy. Never give up, because small actions and continuous promotion can develop and advance the sector,” Ririn said.