NORTH KAYONG WELCOMES INTERNATIONAL YACHTERS AND JET SKIERS by Fardah

Jakarta, Oct 6,2016 (Antara)- North Kayong District, located in West Kalimantan Province, is the first region on Kalimantan Island to host a peak ceremony for the international maritime event Sail Indonesia 2016, known as Sail Karimata Strait.

         The previous Sail Indonesia events were held on Sumatera, Sulawesi or Papua islands.

          Sail Bunaken was held in North Sulawesi in 2009, Sail Banda in Maluku in 2010, Sail Wakatobi-Belitung in Southeast Sulawesi and Bangka Balitung in 2011, and Sail Morotai in North Maluku in 2012.

     Additionally, Sail Komodo was in East Nusa Tenggara in 2013, Sail Raja Ampat in West Papua in 2014, and Sail Tomini was held in the provinces of Central Sulawesi and Gorontalo in 2015.

          The Sail Indonesia series are aimed at promoting Wonderful Indonesia tourism, which seeks to lure 12 million foreign tourists in 2016.

         The Tourism Ministry has identified marine tourism as having a huge potential, though it has been overlooked.
   As the world's largest archipelagic nation, some 70 percent of Indonesia's territory is water, with 17,480 islands and a 92,000-kilometer long beach and coastal areas, the second longest after Canada.

        It also has some 5.8 million square kilometers of marine territory, which constitutes a huge marine tourism potential.

        Indonesian authorities have eased entry permits for yachts in certain seaports, hoping that yachting tourism will increase by 2019.

         According to statements made at the Yacht Forum held in Jakarta last year, the Tourism Ministry is expecting 4,000 yachts by 2018.

         As for the Sail Karimata Strait peak event, North Kayong has prepared a venue in Datuk Island Beach, located in Sukadana Sub-district, for the ceremony on Oct. 15.

          Some 10 thousand Indonesians and five thousand foreigners, including tourists and VIP guests such as ambassadors, are expected to be present at the ceremony.

        This year, in addition to West Kalimantan, three other provinces - Riau Islands, Jambi, and Bangka Belitung - also host several activities for Sail Karimata Strait, which began June 1, 2016.
   The Sail's main activities include a national seminar on maritime affairs, organized in Jambi on August 25, 2016; Belitung Festival on October 22; and Riau Islands Maritime Festival on October 28.

        So far, at least 36 yachts from over 20 countries such as France, Germany and Australia, and some 100 jet skiers have been registered as participants.

        "Thirty six yachts from more than 20 countries have confirmed their participation. We hope there will be more than 50.  Several Yachters have arrived in Ketapang since Oct. 5, and later they will proceed to Kayong," Safri Burhanuddin, Deputy IV in charge of Human Resources Coordination, Science and Technology and Maritime Culture of the Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs, said in Jakarta recently.    
   West Kalimantan has beautiful beaches with crystal clear waters, as well as an undersea panorama decorated by colorful coral reefs, which are not widely known.

         Sail Karimata Strait is expected to help promote the province's marine tourism internationally, Head of the West Kalimantan Maritime and Fishery office Gatot Rudiyanto said in Pontianak.

         The province is particularly seeking to lure tourists from China to the Sail Karimata Strait peak event, Head of the West Kalimantan Tourism and Creative Economic Office Simplisius remarked.

        The tourism office has prepared tours during the Sail, to bring tourists, among other places, to Singkawang town, where many Chinese people have lived for decades.

        Recently, West Kalimantan authorities invited a group of Chinese journalists to visit Singkawang, which is often called the "Hong Kong of Indonesia."
    Simplisius hoped that the number of tourists visiting West Kalimantan during the Sail would increase by 40 percent.

         Situated between Kalimantan and Sumatra Islands, Karimata Strait is one of Indonesia's largest straits.
   Having a population of 1,400 people, Karimata Island has a marine reserve covering 77 thousand hectares, and offers a striking underseas beauty, still unknown to most divers.

         In fact, Karimata cluster consists of two large Islands, Karimata Island and Serutu Island, and several smaller, fascinating islands, such as Kelumpang island, Buluh Island, Belian Island, Busung Island, Segunug Island, Genting Island, Serugganing Island and Kera Island.

         In the meantime, one of the busiest officials making sure preparations for the Sail runs well, is North Kayong District Head Hildi Hamid.

         North Kayong is a relatively new district, established in 2007, after it separated from Ketapang District, also in West Kalimantan.

        Some 40 percent of the North Kayong area is a national park  and forest, which is home to rare and endangered orangutans.

         Being the first district head of North Kayong since 2007, and reelected in 2013, Hildi Hamid has to work extra hard to prepare the young district, which has a limited infrastructure and facilities, as the host for the international event.

        Hamid noted that he has to personally check the preparations and visit the Sail venue, as well as other places, twice or even thrice every day.

        As part of the preparations for the international event, at least 50 local tourist guides, students and civil servants recently attended a training course on tourism organized by the North Kayong district administration. Among the trainers were tourism experts from the Yogyakarta-based University of Gadjah Mada (UGM).

         Education is always Hildi Hamid's priority, in addition to health services.
    North Kayong provides free education for students from elementary through senior high school. Medical services are also free for inhabitants who cannot afford medical costs.

         Hamid also provides scholarships to 10 young men in every village in the district's 43 villages each year, to study at universities, including those located on Java Island.
    Hildi Hamid was born and grew up in North Kayong, but his grandparents were originally from Minang, West Sumatra Province.
    "My grandfathers and grandmothers were from Minang. My mother studied there and lived with her grandma," he said proudly. ***1***
(f001/INE)    
(T.F001/A/BESSR/F. Assegaf) 06-10-2016 12:10: