The Tourism Study Program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM has taken a strategic step in regional tourism development by holding a Coordination Meeting for the drafting of the Regional Tourism Development Master Plan (RIPPARDA) for Pulau Taliabu Regency, North Maluku Province. The meeting, held on Monday, May 4, 2026, at the Ruang Sidang Pimpinan Room, marks the beginning of a technical collaboration between FIB UGM (via the Tourism Study Program and the Center for Tourism Studies/PUSPAR) and the Pulau Taliabu Regency Tourism Office.
In his opening remarks, the Head of the Pulau Taliabu Tourism Office emphasized his hope to elevate the tourism and creative economy sectors despite existing infrastructure challenges. Pulau Taliabu holds a highly strategic geographical position as a maritime traffic route, flanked by 10 regencies with well-developed tourism sectors.
“Our main focus is to shift the community’s mindset to be more creative and innovative in identifying local potential,” stated the Head of the Taliabu Regency Tourism Office during the meeting.
The Dean of Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Prof. Dr. Setiadi, M.Si., welcomed this collaboration and planned a scheme for regular student deployments to support field development.
The Chair of the Tourism Study Program, Dr. Wiwik Sushartami, M.A., added that tourism development in Taliabu must align with the values of sustainable tourist attractions. One of the primary recommendations is the development of Educational Cocoa Agrotourism through a voluntourism concept, where tourists can participate directly in gardening activities and cocoa processing.
The expert team from the Center for Tourism Studies (PUSPAR) UGM explained that the RIPPARDA document will encompass three major outputs:
- Technical RIPPARDA Document: Serving as a guide for tourism development.
- Academic Paper: Acting as the regulatory foundation for Regional Ordinances.
- Indication of Program Plans until 2036: Covering four pillars (Industry, Destination, Institutional, and Marketing).
The plan will also map out 50 thematic sites, including diving potential and opportunities for Taliabu to serve as a stopover destination for international cruise ships.
The field team is scheduled to conduct the initial survey and secondary data collection in the third week of May 2026. Through this comprehensive document, it is hoped that Pulau Taliabu’s tourism development will receive support from various ministries, such as the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, to realize the long-term vision for 2045.
This collaborative activity is a concrete implementation of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), where synergy between academia and local government is the key to building inclusive and sustainable cooperation for the progress of national tourism.
