Mataram, University of Mataram – Josephine Artia Gracia, a student of the Food Science and Technology Study Program at the Faculty of Food Technology and Agroindustry, University of Mataram (Fatepa Unram) succeeded in making an achievement by winning the title of Miss Coffee Tourism 2024 in the prestigious Miss Tourism Indonesia 2024 event on the final night which took place on September 30, 2024 at The Highland Park Resort and Hotel Bogor, West Java.

In this event, Josephine competed with 29 finalists from 25 provinces across Indonesia, including five representatives from Jakarta and two from East Java.

In an exclusive interview with the Public Relations Team of Unram on October 3, 2024, Josephine expressed her pride in her achievement.

“I am very proud to get this title, especially because West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) is known as one of the best coffee producer areas in Indonesia. This is not just about the title, but also about bringing the name of NTB to a higher level,” she said.

In this competition, Josephine carries a strong vision of raising awareness of the importance of safe and inclusive tourism, especially for women. Josephine explained, “I want to promote tourism that is not only attractive to tourists, but also safe and comfortable for everyone, especially women. This is very relevant to the theme of World Tourism Day 2024 which is Tourism and Peace,” she said.

Josephine believes that NTB has an incredible tourism potential that is supported by natural beauty, cultural diversity and encouraged by the creation of a safe environment for women.

“By creating a safe environment for women, we not only increase the attractiveness of our region as a tourist destination, but also create inclusive values that can enrich the tourist experience,” she added.

During the quarantine period, which began on September 24, 2024, Josephine faced various challenges. These included a lack of confidence when she saw the strengths of the other finalists.

“There were times when I felt insecure, but I soon realized that this was a golden opportunity to learn. I see this competition not only as a place to show myself, but also as a platform to sharpen my skills and share experiences with my fellow finalists,” she said.

Josephine also expressed her gratitude to the mentors and trainers who provided guidance during the quarantine period.

“I learned a lot from the sessions provided, which were not only related to beauty and appearance but also about leadership, communication and how to promote sustainable tourism,” she concluded.

With her title, Josephine hopes to contribute more in promoting NTB tourism. She wants to use this platform to inspire the younger generation, especially women to be more active in the tourism industry and understand the importance of creating a safe and inclusive environment.

“I would like to invite everyone to participate in promoting responsible and sustainable tourism. We all have a role to play in creating a safe and comfortable destination to visit,” said Josephine.

Josephine Artia Gracia is currently preparing to undergo various tourism promotion and campaign activities as Miss Coffee Tourism 2024. She believes that with hard work and support from all parties, NTB can become a leading global tourist destination.