Aceh Tourism Agents Being Trained in Bali
Tuesday, 18 March, 2008 | 16:14 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Denpasar: Seventy Aceh tourism agents are being trained in Bali on how to interact with tourists. They consist of 25 tour guides of historical and cultural sites, 20 managers of home industries, and 25 training staff.

The training is to anticipate tourism activity in Aceh after the tsunami. “Aceh's potential for tourism is known worldwide,” said Badrul Fadhil, team manager for communication for the economy and business, BRR NAD-Nias, Tuesday (18/3) in Kuta, Bali.

After the tsunami, at least 1,200 local and international NGOs operated in Aceh, It has been considered as free promotion for Aceh.

A number of infrastructures have been constructed , like an airport, harbor, and road access to tourism sites. There are also on-going construction for special sites such as a tsunami monument and museum, Aceh-style batik museum, and a tsunami mass-grave. It is planned to make the tsunami site for tourists although its main purpose is to perpetuate that historical moment.

The Aceh tourism department reported at least 400 tourism sites, including a beautiful beach and a mountain waterfall. Unfortunately, some of the sites have not been managed properly due to the war, followed by the tsunami.

“Therefore, we will focus first on the managerial aspect,” said Mirzan Fuadi, head of Aceh’s tourism department. The 2008 budget for tourism totals Rp 35 billion excluding funding from the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Board (BRR).

Regarding the community's reaction to the visit of tourists, Fadhil said there were still groups resistant to this effort. However, this point of view is gradually changing after seeing the benefits of tourism that can help Aceh’s economy.

According to Fadhil, the condition of Aceh as a province with special autonomy and religion has not been a barrier to develop its tourism potential. In fact, its religious tourism can be appealing for certain people.

Rofiqi Hasan