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 Governor Irwandi Yusuf has requested the preparations for the implementation of the annual event this year to be carried out more optimally. "Preparations for Sail Sabang 2017 must be optimized and coordinated with the relevant agencies," the Aceh governor remarked in Sabang recently.
During the peak event, the organizers will present the Admiral Malahayati colossal dance; a tall ship parade (by Indonesia's KRI Bima Suci warship and tall ships from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore), followed by the Nusantara Youth Ship; Baruna Jaya IV and VIII research ships; 100 yachts from Langkawi, Phuket, Singapore, Australia, and Europe; and a parade by traditional fishermen.
Apart from that, a number of supporting activities such as sci-tech Jamboree, international free diving competition, Sabang underwater contest, Sabang Carnival, Aceh culinary and coffee festival, Sabang Wonderful Expo, Marine Expo, Sales Mission Cruise Operator and Yacht, and a Marine Tourism Seminar will be held.
Other interesting activities will include Indonesia Charm Performance, fishing contests, and photo and video contests.
Deputy for the tourism industry and destination at the Tourism Ministry Dadang Rizki Ratman stated recently that the sailing event was part of the efforts to develop Sabang as a maritime tourism destination area.
Scheduled to be attended by President Joko Widodo on Dec 2, the event is also expected to encourage private investment, especially in the tourism industry in Aceh.
"Sail Sabang should be optimized to encourage private investment in tourism industry," Iskandar, head of the Capital Investment and Integrated One-Stop Service of Aceh Province, remarked.
Sabang has marine tourism potential that is no less interesting than that in other regions. It has become a barometer, but the city's tourism potential is yet to be managed optimally.
Hence the event is expected to encourage growth in the tourism industry in Sabang, which comprises of several scenic islands, including the Weh Island.
The waters of Weh Island are home to 133 coral reef species, according to a study on coral reefs, jointly conducted by the Fishery and Marine Research Centre of the Syiah Kuala University, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University of Australia, Wildlife Conservation Society, and Flora and Fauna International.
Visitors can swim, snorkel, or dive in Sabang and encounter an amazing variety of sea creatures, from the colorful dory fish and the playful dolphin to the majestic whale shark. In addition to its breathtaking marine life, Sabang also has an underwater volcano, offering visitors a chance to experience a unique dive.
Iboih Beach and the small Rubiah Island, located 100 meters across from it, are Sabang's most popular tourist destinations. It is also a nature conservation area, according to www.discoversabang.com.
A monument is on the western tip of Sabang, 29 kilometers away from the city center, marking the westernmost point of Indonesia's land. Leaving Sabang without seeing this monument is like leaving Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower.
One of the benefits of a small city is that many kinds of foods are still handmade at home (simply because factories that mass-produce them do not exist).
Also, seafood in Sabang is produced locally, which means that it does not have to go through preservation and refrigeration processes. Similarly, fruits in the market are grown organically and come straight from a local farm.
Given that Sabang's main attractions are gorgeous beaches, it is obvious that beachside resorts are the most popular accommodations here. In general, staying by the beach works better for foreign tourists as activities are right at the door step and communication tends to be easier as locals at the beach and resort employees are much more likely to speak English.
With the existing facilities, the participants of Sail Sabang would not only enjoy the thrilling race but also the beauty of the natural landscapes of Sabang.
***1***(A014/INE)EDITED BY INE(T.A014/A/BESSR/A. Abdussalam) 30-10-2017 22:33: |
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