The Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) invested IDR10.2 billion to beautify the Pasir Padi Beach in Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung province, in 2021. The two-kilometer long white sand beach is facing the Natuna Sea.
Bangka-Belitung is an archipelagic province in Indonesia, which consists of 470 islands. However, only 50 islands have inhabitants. The province has an area of 16,424 square kilometers and it has 15 investments. Currently, its infrastructures comprise of two industrial centers, two airports, 26 ports, 25 educational facilities, 103 hotels and 23 hospitals.
BKPM is a government agency in charge of implementing policy and service coordination in the investment sector in accordance with the regulations. Established in 1973, Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia now chairs the BKPM since 2021.
Redeveloping the beach
The redevelopment of Pasir Padi project kicked off in 2021 with an investment of IDR10.2 billion, internal rate of return (IRR) of 12.9%, net present value (NPV) of IDR49.89 million and a payback period of 5.06 years. Pasir Padi beach is located around eight-kilometers from Pangkalpinang city center. The investment is likely profitable since the beach has its own uniqueness in the form of its sloping beach, a solid contour that enables easy access for pedestrians and vehicles.
The project will help support tourism in the province as it will attract and invite tourists to come and visit the province.
“The local administration needs to fix the tourist area, especially at Pasir Padi Beach with public facilities,” said Pangkalpinang mayoralty legislative councils (DPRD) Spokesman, Rudi Kurniawan Yahya, on August 23, 2022.
The Pangkalpinang administration will continue to improve the beach until 2023 and the purpose of this project is to make the area neater and to have a wider competitiveness and better quality. Later on, the beach will have various facilities and culinary centers.
“We will push again [the beautification] of Pasir Padi,” said Pangkalpinang Mayor Maulan Aklil on August 23, 2022.
Challenges to beach tourism
Despite the efforts to prettify the Pasir Padi Beach, unfortunately, the area is prone to abrasion and high waves. In 2021, high waves destroyed the seawall along the beach. While the flood as a result of the abrasion destroyed parts of the beach.
“When it was damaged last year, we repaired the damaged road. But it keeps recurring. It is the risk due to the natural factor that we can’t avoid,” said Suparlan Dulaspar, head of Pangkalpinang Public Works Agency, as quoted by Bangkapos.com on December 8, 2021.
Meanwhile, Bangka Belitung is also prone to radicalism and terrorism. A survey by the Coordinating Forum on the Eradication of Terrorism (FPKT) revealed that the province had a high potential for radicalism influence, especially among children.
Bangka Belitung Provincial DPRD Deputy Speaker Amri Cahyadi said he was stunned by the result of the survey and requsted the province’s FPKT to cooperate with other institutions to counter this development.
“We strongly support the radicalism eradication program. We are referring to a ministerial circular letter, therefore I suggest our FPKT colleagues to immediately submit proposals for operational activities in preventing radicalism in Bangka Belitung,” he added.
