'SAIL SABANG' TO HAVE GREATEST IMPACT ON ACEH TOURISM

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 22 (Antara) - The international 'Sail Sabang' event, which will be organized in the waters of Weh Island of Sabang Municipality next weekend, will have the greatest impact on Aceh Province's tourism promotion.          According to the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA), tourists arriving in Weh Island of Sabang City by yachts or sailboats will rise in the next few years. "The impact of Sabang Sail will surely be positive and will have the greatest benefit for the marine tourism sector of Aceh, as yachts will frequently visit Sabang," ASITA Secretary of Aceh, Totok Julianto, said by phone in Kutacane, Southeast Aceh, on Tuesday (Nov 21).        According to him, the event, which will take place from Nov 18 to Dec 5, 2017, will boost the number of sailboats and yachts heading for a vacation to the most western region in Indonesia.          Ships from international countries, such as America, Europe, and Australia, will turn the Weh Island of Sabang into one of the favorite destinations in Southeast Asia, besides Langkawi in Malaysia and Phuket in Thailand.

SAIL SABANG TO PROMOTE ACEH TOURISM

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 29 (Antara) - Aceh Province, in the northern tip of Sumatra, will organize an international event called 'Sail Sabang' in a month to come, as part of the annual 'Sail Indonesia' to promote its tourism potential.         The sailing event, which will be held from Nov 28 to December 5, 2017, will be organized around the Weh Island where the Sabang Municipality of Aceh province is located.         During the sail event, activities will take place in four locations, namely on the bay of Sabang, Sabang Fair, Gapang Resort, and Kilometer Zero. It will be held under the theme "Sabang Toward Destination Gate of World Maritime Tourism."    According to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Fahri Hamzah, Sail Sabang is a state project in the westernmost province of Aceh, which functions as a gateway to Indonesia.          "Sail Sabang is not just the job of the Event Organizer but the state project to make Sabang as the westernmost entrance of Indonesia," Hamzah stated in Sabang on Saturday (Oct 28).          The local government is now gearing up to organize the event, which is expected to be attended by more than 100 yachts from different countries such as Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and European countries, including those from other parts of the world.

ACEH TO ORGANIZE 'SAIL SABANG 2017'

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 29 (Antara) - Indonesia's province of Aceh in the western tip of Sumatra island will organize an international 'Sail Sabang 2017' event in the Sabang Bay later this year to promote its tourism and attract domestic and international tourists.          The central government seems to be serious in supporting the Sabang sailing festival. Hence, it held a coordination meeting to discuss the sailing event on Wednesday (March 29).          Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan urged that preparations should be done earlier so that the launching and implementation of the program would run smoothly, professionally, and successfully.          "We discussed technical matters and division of responsibilities at the cross-ministerial meeting, because we wanted all the preparations for Sail Sabang to be made well," Luhut noted.          The minister remarked that Indonesia had a lot of tourism potential that could be offered to tourists visiting the westernmost region.          According to the website www.sabangkota.go.id of the regional government of Sabang City, the sailing festival will include a number of attractions such as a yacht rally, seminar, international aerobatic show, visit by international cruise ships, Nusantara Youth ship, work parachute championship, international diving competition, Aceh cultural week, Sabang sail carnival, and a sci-tech exhibition held to observe 20 years of Sabang's sci-tech Jamboree.