BANYUWANGI, BEST FESTIVAL CITY IN INDONESIA by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb 6, 2017 (Antara) - Banyuwangi District in East Java Province deserves to be called the city of cultural and traditional art festivals for successfully organizing annual festivals since 2012 for tourism purposes.

         Last year, Banyuwangi had planned at least 58 festivals, including 20 new attractions, such as the Canal Rafting Festival, Sailing Ship Festival, Underwater Festival, and Badeng River Tubing Festival, in addition to the Paddy Planting Festival, and Fishery Festival, District Head Abdullah Azwar Anas stated. In 2015, the district had held 38 festivals. 
   This year, Banyuwangi has planned 72 activities to enliven the 2017 Banyuwangi Festival.

        For successfully holding festivals in the last five years, the Tourism Ministry has adjudged Banyuwangi District as the best festival city in Indonesia.

         Tourism Ministry Arief Yahya bestowed the title on Banyuwangi during the launch of the Banyuwangi Festival 2017 in his office in Jakarta on February 3, 2017.

         "Judging from various festivals organized in Indonesia, I declare Banyuwangi as the best festival city or the best festival organizer. Banyuwangi ranks first," Yahya was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Banyuwangi District administration recently.

         He lauded Banyuwangi for organizing the annual festival that helps to preserve the local culture and traditions and to boost the local economic conditions.

         Besides this, the implementation of the annual festival has improved quantitatively and qualitatively, the minister asserted. 
    Yahya is optimistic that promoting Banyuwangi's tourism would also support the government of Indonesia in achieving the target of attracting 20 million foreign tourists by 2019.

        Banyuwangi, termed as "the Sunrise of Java," had attracted some 80 thousand foreign tourists and 3.2 million domestic tourists last year owing to the festival.      
   If every foreign tourist spent an average of US$500 per visit, Banyuwangi would earn some Rp500 billion in total.

         "For domestic tourists, the average spending is Rp1 million each. So from domestic tourists, the earnings could reach Rp1 trillion. Hence, money circulation from tourism is Rp1.5 trillion in Banyuwangi," he added.

           He suggested that Banyuwangi promotes maritime tourism, as foreign yachts could generate a lot of income.

            "If some 1 thousand yachts visit Banyuwangi, we could earn at least Rp1 trillion from their spending," the minister stated.

         On September 15, 2017, Banyuwangi will organize the Banyuwangi Sail Yacht Festival as part of the annual festival.

         Besides this, Banyuwangi will continue to hold previously organized festivals, such as the International Tour de Banyuwangi Ijen, Gandrung Sewu Festival, Banyuwangi Ethno Carnival, and the Batik Festival, in addition to the Beach Jazz Festival.

         Banyuwangi has abundant cultural and art potential that is waiting to be exploited, he noted.

         "We continue to promote these and give them a stage in order to preserve and sustain the local traditional culture and arts," Banyuwangi District Head Abdullah Azwar Anas had remarked last year.

         The district won an award from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) at a ceremony held in Madrid, Spain, in early 2016.

         The Banyuwangi administration, with its "Re-inventing the Government in Tourism" project, emerged as the winner for Innovation in the Public Policy and Governance category at the 12th UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism.  
    Currently, the Banyuwangi district government is developing an integrated tourism market in the city's south side entrance that would resemble Thailand's Chatuchak weekend market.

        The modern-go green market is designed by national architect Andra Matin, and to be opened to the public by the end of 2017 or in early 2018.

         The market will be integrated with a bus terminal and lodging facilities to cater to the needs of local and foreign tourists, Anas, a former legislator, pointed out.

         "We expect this market to be the main destination for tourists looking for Banyuwangi's typical souvenirs and items. Using the same concept as Thailand's Chatuchak market, which is segmented for tourists, we are trying to develop this market using a new design that will combine a tourist terminal and lodging facilities," Anas added.

         The bus terminal will serve as a transportation hub for tourists keen on visiting other tourist sites in Banyuwangi, while merchants in the public market will sell various items, such as "batik" traditional fabric, crafts, souvenirs, and also daily food items.

          The market has two main four-floor buildings; a parking area, with a capacity for 200 vehicles; prayer room; offices for travel agents; and a Tourist Information Center.  
     Located in the eastern tip of Java Island, Banyuwangi is also  blessed with scenic beaches and mountains.

        Ijen Crater located in the western part of Banyuwangi is famous for its beautiful crater lake, the traditional sulfur miners who amazingly climb up and down the slope of Mount Merapi, and the plantations that cover the Crater's slope.

        The National Park of Meru Betiri is famous for its Java Tiger and turtles.   ***1***
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(T.F001/A/BESSR/F. Assegaf) 06-02-2017