REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANYUWANGI -- The Banyuwangi district administration in East Java is preparing a four-day free tour package for Indonesian athletes winning gold medals at the recently concluded Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta and Palembang. It reflected the district administration's appreciation of the athletes' achievements that will hopefully boost the nationalism of youths in the district, Banyuwangi district head Abdullah Azwar Anas noted here on Monday.

"First, of course, we all are proud of our remarkable achievement in the Asian Games. Second, we hope the athletes' untiring spirit of nationalism will spread to Banyuwangi, particularly to our youths," he emphasized.

Anas said the free tour package is also part of the district's tourism promotional strategy involving tour operators without utilizing the district budget fund.

"The athletes are extraordinary endorsers. If they holiday at Ijen crater, relax in coastal resorts in Banyuwangi, and then upload (their activities there) on social media, this will be an effective promotion for Banyuwangi, as they have a great deal of followers," he pointed out. During the free vacation, they will be able to witness the world-renowned blue flame at Ijen crater, G-Land with the world's best wave-surfing, and savannah in the Alas Purwo National Park.

Tourists board a boat down the river in Bedul Mangrove, Alas Purwo National Park, Banyuwangi, East Java.

The Indonesian contingent to the Asian Games 2018 clinched 98 medals, with 31 gold, 24 silver, and 43 bronze. With the medal tally, Indonesia finished fourth after China, with 132 gold, 92 silver, and 65 bronze medals; Japan, with 75 gold, 56 silver, and 74 bronze medals; and South Korea, with 49 gold, 58 silver, and 70 bronze medals. Host Indonesia had earlier set a target of finishing in the top 10 at the Asian Games 2018, with 16 gold medals.

Earlier, Vice President Jusuf Kalla has stated that Indonesia has recorded a history by reaching the highest achievements at the Asian Games since the first such event was held in 1951. He lauded athletes' efforts in Asian Games 2018.

"This is Indonesia's highest achievement in the history of its participation in the Asian Games, from standing 17th in the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, with four gold medals, to finishing fourth with 31 gold medals," Kalla remarked at the 2018 Asian Games closing ceremony at Bung Karno Main Stadium, here on Sunday night.

Kalla pointed out that with 98 medals won by the host contingent at the 18th Asian Games, the sense of unity of the Indonesian people is getting stronger, along with the increasing tolerance in Indonesia's pluralism.

"Therefore, it is very important to make use of this moment to strengthen the unity and identity of a pluralistic and tolerant nation. The high fighting spirit is also important to achieve progress, prosperity and peace," Kalla, who is also the Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Indonesia Asian Games 2018 Organizing Committee (INASGOC), said.

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