Highland Papua to enhance tourism by improving transportation

The Highland Papua Provincial Government is focusing on improving transportation to enhance the tourism sector so that tourists continue to visit the local area.

Acting Highland Papua Governor Velix V. Wanggai stated in Wamena District, Jayawijaya Regency, Highland Papua on Jan. 31, 2025, said that to the Highland Papua Provincial Government is focusing on analyzing the three As (3A) of tourism, namely attraction, accessibility, and amenities, to overcome the transportation problems.

"We strongly agree that accessibility is very important. On the other hand, Highland Papua is faced with high costs, [and] flight schedules that depend on only one or two large-scale airlines," he said.

Velix added that communication between Wamena District and Papua Province's capital Jayapura City needs to be improved to overcoming the problem of high costs and modes of transportation.

"We continue to encourage the extension of the [Wamena Airport] runway so that new airlines will enter to increase the movement of goods and services in Highland Papua," he said.

Velix explained that, in analyzing the high costs, the cause came not only from transportation into Wamena District but also in from the district capital of Jayawijaya Regency to eight other regencies in Highland Papua.

"We are also focusing on how to connect from Wamena to other tourist destinations in Highland Papua so they are well connected," he said.

Velix revealed that they have so far relied more on existing land and air routes to connect Wamena District to seven regencies of Highland Papua outside Jayawijaya Regency.

"We hope that better modes of transportation will attract tourists to visit High Papua to see the natural beauty, customs, and culture that have their authenticity still preserved," he said.