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Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Luhut Binsar Panjaitan attended tourism attraction of “Banyuwangi Ethno Carnival" in Banyuwangi on Sunday (29/7). Thousands of tourists and local people also attended the ethnic carnaval which has been held for 8 years consecutively. The carnaval is consistent in carrying the theme of local culture. On the occassion Minister Luhut Binsar Panjaitan on his writtten statement said that the government of Banyuwangi had proven that the rise of tourism was so effective to create jobs and to motivate the economy more quickly. Minister Luhur evaluated that it is a good step for Banyuwangi in improving the tourism sector which is currently became the largest contributor to the state revenue after energy sector, and it is predicted to be the country’s largest sources of revenue shortly. He also added that the central government also continue to accelerate the tourism infastructure development in Banyuwangi regency. The region has been set as cantilever of IMF and World Bank annual meeting next October which will be attended by 17.000 delegations from around the world. Some of the delegations will land in Banyuwangi Airport and will travel to "the Sunrise of Java" region. For the preparation, the central government spends 50 billion rupiahs to renovate infrastructures around Alas Purwo National Park. The Park has exotic prairie and Plengkung Beach with the best wave in the world for surfing. Furthermore, there is also infrastructure improvement to the area of Ijen Crater which is famous with the natural phenomena of blue fire which is famous worldwide. Regent of Banyuwangi, Abdullah Azwar Anas,appreciated the central government’s support for Banyuwangi. Thanks to the support of the central government, province, and collaboration with the people, Banyuwangi kept growing in the last few years, and its tourism sector became one of the supporter of the growth. The Regent also said, the poverty rate in Banyuwangi decreased sharply in the last 7 years to the level of 8.6 percent from the previous year. Income per capita of the people increases 120 percent in 2017 compared to the position in 2011. He said that the most challenging duty ahead is to push economic equity to the villages, suh as through Smart Village program.

Cambodian people have followed the sixth election in the country last Sunday. The quick count results that 82 percent of the Cambodian people, numbering around 7 million people, have participated in this year's elections. People's participation increased from the previous election which only reached 62 percent. On the quick count results, the Cambodian People's Party is almost certain to return to power by seizing control of all parliamentary seats, amounting to no less than 100 seats. Thus the election results will extend the power of the ruling party for 33 years. The Electoral Winner Party is the Cambodian People's Party-CPP, formed by Prime Minister Hunsen who is now 65 years old. The victory of the Cambodian People's Party is not surprising because the main opposition, the National Rescue Party, CNRP, has disbanded a year before the General Elections are held. Thus the government of Prime Minister Samdech Hun only had to deal with small parties numbering around 20.A CPP spokesperson responded to the quick count result, that his party had at least 80 percent of the seats in parliament, which amounted to 125 seats. On the other hand, the Cambodian National Salvation Party declares that the election has been full of fraud and that his party will not recognize the results of this election. However, such protests may not have any effect on the election results to be determined by the Cambodian National Elections Commission. The Commission, after the closing of the ballot box stated that the 2018 election was successful.As a matter of fact, Cambodia will again be led by Hunsen who came to power in 1985 when the country was still in civil war. As quoted by the media, Hunsen responded to the election results by stating that the people of Cambodia have chosen to take the path of democracy and use their rights as citizens. The people of Cambodia certainly hope that in the next five years, they will enjoy various advances in life. Will that hope come true? And will Cambodia also play a better role in the ASEAN scene? Only time will tell.

West Nusa Tenggara -NTB, especially Lombok has many tourism objects which are worthy being visited. Take for example in North Lombok regency, there is beach which is able to eliminate fatigue after running daily activities. The beach is called ‘Sire beach’. Sire beach has amazing nature. With its coastal line of tourism destination as long as 3.8 kilometers, Sire beach has clear and transparent water. Because of its clear water, from surface of the sea, you can see small fish. Besides, its water is quite calm so that tourists can do marine activities. Unlike other beaches which have special white sand, at Sire beach, its sand is not quite white but it has smooth texture. Around the beach, it is surrounded by coconut trees which are in the neat row. In addition to enjoying the beauty of its clear water, tourists, who make visits here, can also enjoy another activity; one of them is fishing. Here, they can also spend the time by playing beach-volley ball. Sire beach is located at Medana hamlet, North Lombok. The distance is around 35 kilometers from Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara. The trip takes around 1 hour from Mataram by land transportation. If you want to go to this tourism object, we suggest you to use rental car, because public transportation which passes Sire beach is still infrequent. The facility at the beach is inadequate. Thus, if you visit the beach, it is better for you to bring enough money, because it is difficult to find ATM. Besides, please do not forget to bring your own swimming equipment because there is no rental facility.

The Center for the Conservation of Natural Resources -BBKSDA of Papua invites residents and various parties to care for endemic animals in eastern Indonesia. Head of BBKSDA Papua, Timbul Batubara said in Jayapura, on Saturday that his side has just received the result of the operated animals recently from the Law Enforcement Center for Environment and Forestry Section in Jayapura. He said that 38 birds have been received and will be treated in transit cage. He urged the related stakeholders to be more concerned and aware that Papuan endemic animals are becoming increasingly scarce. Timbul Batubara also stated that the habitat destruction and poaching are the main causes of declining populations in the wild. The same thing was also expressed by Technical Head of BBKSDA for Papua, Askhari Masikki. He said if we care, we have to be actively involved to take care of it. After all, they are more beautiful when living freely in the wild. Askhari added that now, BBKSDA for Papua also has already a call center with the number 0823-9802-99-78 that can be contacted at any time.

The 10^th Banyumas Serayu Festival 2018 becomes an event to promote the potential of marine tourism, especially in the Serayu River, Banyumas Regency. Head of Serayu Tourism Society –PMPS, Eddy Wahono in Purwokerto, Banyumas Regency, said that the event to be held on August 11-12 is the idea of Balai Besar Serayu River Region Opak -BBWSO and PMPS to promote Serayu River exoticism. Eddy also said that the idea is based on the background of changing people's livelihood from sand mining activities in Serayu Riverto be become tourist actors in the river. After running four times, the festival is included in the tourism agenda of Youth, Sports, Culture and Tourism Office of Banyumas Regency. Head of the 10^th Banyumas Serayu Festival 2018 Committee, Imam Basroil said that in this event, his side carries the theme "Knitting the Edge of Serayu" which contains the meaning of utilization and the management of marine resources by involving many parties, namely related institutions, communities, and tourism actors. On a separate occasion, Head of Tourism Department of Youth, Sports, Culture, and Tourism, Banyumas Saptono admitted that previously, the Banyumas Serayu Festival 2018 was scheduled for July 28-29. However, the implementation is changed to 11-12 August 2018 due to technical constraints, such as the construction of a railway bridge over the Serayu River which has been for the route of ornamental boat carnival.

At Car Free Day of Banda Aceh City on Jl. Daud Beureueh, Banda Aceh Mayor, Aminullah Usman along with Natural Resource Conservation Center -BKSDA of Aceh and Tiger Heart Community held Global Tiger Day commemoration 2018 on Sunday (29/7). The commemoration with the theme "Local Wisdom for Sumatran Tiger Conservation" was attended by hundreds of visitors of Car Free Day. Various actions were held in the commemoration, such as Face Painting, Sumatran Tiger Preservation Oration, Coloring competition, Lion Dance Performance, Photo Exhibition, and Bazaar. In his speech, Mayor, Aminullah pointed out that it’s important to conserve the endangered Sumatran tigers. The Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) are the sub-species of tiger from three sub-tigers owned by Indonesia besides Javanese tiger and Balinese tiger, which has been declared extinct. Sumatran tigers are now very endangered due to their  increasingly narrow habitat.