ECLIPSE BRINGS FORTUNE TO INDONESIAN TOUIRSM

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 12 (Antara) - Last Wednesday's total solar eclipse (TSE) in 12 Indonesian provinces was a blessing and fortune for the country's tourism as it promoted local tourism and left foreign tourists with deep memories to revisit the country.          After all, the local governments in big cities which fell within the footprint of the TSE organized various attractions and festivals, introducing local arts and cultures, foods, tourist sites and the beauty of Indonesian nature.          All these things will become items of promotion for Indonesian tourism as the domestic and foreign eclipse trackers will share their experience through the social media in their respective countries.          "I am confident that the number of foreign tourist arrivals in Sigi will increase drastically contributing more foreign exchange and improving the economy of local people around the tourism sites," Sigi District Head Moh. Irwan Lapata said Thursday.          Sigit District was a meeting point for eclipse enthusiasts in Palu, Central Sulawesi, which was one of the 12 provinces in the path of the natural phenomenon.          Thousands of foreign tourists visited Central Sulawesi during the TSE, he said. Most of them went to Sigi District. In this district, the local government cooperates with tourism operators in developing observation centers of the TSE. Among others, it included Ngatabaru village, Palu City, Wayu and Kauli villages.

ENTHUSIASTS READY TO WATCH INDONESIAN ECLIPSE

 

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 8 (Antara) - Thousands of foreign and domestic enthusiasts were all set on Tuesday to watch the rare natural phenomenon of total solar eclipse (TSE) that will take place over 12 provinces across Indonesia on Wednesday.          The 12 Indonesian provinces are Bengkulu, West Sumatra, South Sumatra, Jambi, Bangka Belitung, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, West Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi and North Maluku.          Big cities which fall within the footprint of the total solar eclipse in Indonesia are Muko-Muko (Bengkulu), Palembang (South Sumatra), Tanjung Pandan, Palangkaraya (Central Kalimantan), Balikpapan (East Kalimtan), Palu (Central Sulawesi) and Ternate (North Maluku).      The Indonesian government will organize the main event to watch the TSE in Bangka Belitung Province, as most of its waters lie in the path of the eclipse. It sent a solar eclipse expedition team to Bangka Belitung to immortalize the rare event.          Coordinating Minister  for Maritime and Resource Affairs Rizal Ramli saw off a 2016 Total Solar Eclipse Expedition Team in Jakarta on Tuesday.