PROMOTING SCIENCE TOURISM IN ACEH by Fardah

Jakarta, Oct 10, 2017 (Antara) - Indonesia's westernmost province of Aceh offers unexplored natural beauty comprising rivers, mountains, and intact forests that are home to various rare and endangered animal species, such as orangutans, elephants, Sumatran rhinos, and tigers.

          The Mount Leuser National Park (TNGL), which is partly located in Aceh, is one of the world's most biodiverse and ancient ecosystems having countless biological treasures, including clouded leopards, hornbills, and giant flowers.     
     The TNGL along with two other national parks -- Kerinci Seblat and Bukit Barisan Selatan -- is part of the 2.5 million-hectare Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra site, which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2004.   
     Spread across 7,927 square kilometers, the TNGL is an ideal location for science tourism, a niche area within alternative forms of tourism, that shares specificity of learning, adventure, cultural, and experiential tourism.

          The protected area is home to an estimated 10 thousand plant species, including 17 endemic genera; more than 200 mammalian species; and some 580 bird species of which 465 are resident and 21 are endemic.

          Of the mammalian species, 22 are Asian, not found elsewhere in the archipelago and 15 are confined to the Indonesian region. The site also provides biogeographic evidence of the evolution of the island.    
     Several experts believe that linking science and tourism seems to meet the challenge of boosting socio-economic growth of the local communities and potentially improving the conservation of highly fragile ecosystems.

          Hence, Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf has suggested that Gayo Lues District in Central Aceh, where TNGL is located, be developed into a science tourism destination.    
     Aceh is totally safe and conducive for tourists now, according to the Aceh governor.

          "Gayo Lues could become a scientific tourism destination, as it has the TNGL," he said recently during a visit to Blangkejeren, the capital of Gayo Lues District, Aceh Province.

          Several foreign researchers from various countries have visited TNGL, as the park is already an ecological research center.

          "Apart from scientific tourism, Gayo Lues can also be developed into an ecotourism destination, as the district has natural scenery and beautiful rivers suitable for rafting," he noted.

              Yusuf urged the district administration to develop appropriate facilities and infrastructure to support the region's tourism industry.

         The local authorities must also improve security to guarantee safety of the visitors.

          The Aceh provincial government has planned to construct roads connecting the eastern and western coastal regions of Aceh, through central Aceh, to increase accessibility to the regions, including Gayo Lues.

          "The allocation of the budget will be proposed in 2018. We hope that by constructing roads, accessibility to the central Aceh region, including Gayo Lues, would improve," he remarked.

          The promotion of Gayo Lues as a science tourism destination is in accordance with the policy of the Aceh Government which has been intensively developing its tourism sector.

            Known as the Veranda of Mecca, Aceh is a province located at the tip of the island of Sumatra and also the western tip of Indonesia. It apparently has many exotic and amazing tourist attractions. Thus, visiting it can provide a different and exciting experience.

         The province has at least 808 interesting locations that could be developed to meet the province's aspirations of becoming a major tourism destination in the western part of Indonesia.

          Its tourism destinations comprise 426 natural tourism areas, 268 cultural tourism areas, and 114 special interest tourism areas, among others.

          Surrounded by the Indian Ocean and Malacca Strait, Aceh has plenty to offer to tourists, from religious sites, such as the Baiturrahman Mosque built by Sultan Iskandar Muda in 1612, to enchanting natural attractions, such as the Blang Kolam and Suhom waterfalls; the beaches of Kuala Merisi, Lampuuk, Lokhnga, and Ulee Lheue; Pantan Terong hill; and the islands of We and Rubiah.

        The Aceh government has also intensified efforts on developing adventure tourism such as rafting, climbing and paragliding in the province's hilly central region, which is deemed a perfect location to enjoy extreme sports.

        Tourism Minister Arief Yahya had earlier said the development of adventure travel in Aceh's rural areas must also be supported by well-trained tour guides. 
    Besides, as Indonesia's only province that has enforced sharia (Islamic law), it is natural if Aceh is also developing halal (permissible according to Islamic teaching) and Muslim friendly tourism as its core economy.

          At the 2016 National Halal Tourism Competition (KPHN), Aceh won three awards. The award in the category of Muslim Friendly Airport was won by the Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport in Banda Aceh, and the Muslim friendly cultural destination and best tourist attraction awards went to the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, according to  Reza Fahlevi, head of the Aceh cultural and tourism office.***1***

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(T.F001/A/BESSR/F. Assegaf) 10-10-2017