VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia`s western most province of Aceh is the only region in Indonesia that officially applies sharia (Islamic laws) in daily life, so when Aceh is determined to develop and promote halal (permissible according to Islamic laws) tourism industry, it knows exactly what it is.

As the province is rich in culture, arts, biodiversity, nature scenery, which are asset for tourism, the Aceh administration has decided to designate halal tourism as one of its priority products.

"Halal tourism has developed fast in the world. Hence, Aceh must take advantage of halal tourism. Hence, halal tourism should become Aceh`s priority product," Jamaluddin, head of the Aceh tourism and culture office, stated in Banda Aceh, recently.

Since 2014, there has been a boom in the world`s halal tourism market. Of the world`s total 6.8 billion population, at least 1.6 billion are Muslim, and 60 percent of them are under 30 years old. The Muslim travel market accounted for more than $142 billion in 2014.

It is projected that the number of Muslim travelers will reach some 180 million by 2020 and will constitute 11.4 percent of the market, with an expenditure projected to be $212 billion.

Recovering from the 2004 tsunami devastation, Aceh has approximately 803 objects of tourist interest and 774 cultural sites scattered across the province.

To this end, Aceh organized a training course for human resources supporting halal tourism. Tens of members of the Aceh Tourism Stakeholders` Association (ASPPI) participated in the course.

Halal tourism respects Islamic culture and Islamic legal values, including those concerning certified halal food.

"Even without certification, food products in Aceh are, in fact, guaranteed to be halal. However, certificates are also obtained to convince tourists," he noted.

He called on tourism stakeholders in Aceh to obtain certificates for their products, including food, hospitality, and other services, in order to support Aceh`s halal tourism industry.

Halal tourism is expected to help the Aceh government to meet its target of attracting at least three million domestic tourists during 2019.

"Our target is to receive some three million domestic tourists in Aceh this year," Jamaluddin stated.

Aceh is optimistic of receiving 150 thousand foreign tourists.0

The number of both domestic and foreign tourist arrivals in Aceh has increased since 2014 and has brought positive impacts on the economy of the Aceh people, he added.

In 2014, the number of tourist arrivals in Aceh reached 1.47 million, comprising 1.42 domestic tourists and 50,722 foreigners.

In 2015, the number increased to 1.77 million consisting of 1.717 million domestic tourists and 54,588 foreigners.

During 2016, a total of 2.23 million people visited Aceh, comprising 2.15 million domestic tourists and and 76,452 foreign travelers.

The number of tourists visiting the province further increased to 2.36 million in 2017, consisting of 2.28 million Indonesians and 78,980 foreign tourists.

Last year, as many as 2.498 million tourists, comprising 2.391 million Indonesians and 106,281 foreigners visited Aceh.

"We have intensified efforts to attract more tourists by stepping up promotion activities and organizing other tourism events featuring the nature scenery and various culture and arts of Aceh," Jamaluddin revealed.

Aceh has Leuser National Park, which is the last natural place on Earth and home to four mega fauna species of Sumatran rhinos (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii), Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris), and Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus).

The western and eastern areas of Aceh Province are currently estimated to have a population of 800 wild Sumatran elephants.

"The number is forecast to increase around 10 percent as compared to that of last year," Head of the Lhokseumawe Natural Resources Conservation Agency Dedi Irvansyah said recently.

Leuser is also a habitat for most fauna, ranging from mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians to fish and invertebrates. It is a region having the longest list of birds in the world, up to 380 species, with 350 of them found in this park, which is also home to owa (Hylobates lar) and kedih (Presbytis thomasi).

The Mount Leuser National Park was designated as a Biosphere Reserve in 1981 and inscribed on the World Heritage List of the United National Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2004.

Besides, Aceh also has Weh Island, which is very exotic and romantic, as it is surrounded by a number of small islets. Besides, its strategic location, Weh Island, located between the Indian Ocean and the Malacca Strait, is easily accessible by both domestic and foreign tourists.

Sabang coastal town, located on Weh Island, is known for its beautiful marine panorama. Sabang has become a favorite place for marine tourism lovers for performing various activities, such as diving, snorkeling, fishing, sun-bathing, and visiting interesting spots.

Vice President M Jusuf Kalla had several years ago reminded inhabitants of Weh Island that friendliness and good services remain keys to lure tourists.

President Joko Widodo dialogue with the players and officials League U-22 on the terrace behind Istana Merdeka, Jakarta, Thursday (28/2) morning. The President says, he and the entire people of Indonesia felt proud for achievement of U Timnas U-22 which is the new generation of football Indonesia. Indonesia is champions of AFF-U 22 2019 championship, in Phnompenh Cambodia.

The Indonesian Embassy in Buenos Aires has facilitated the return of the body of an Indonesian seaman, Zais, who died on board while sailing in the South Atlantic waters.

The seaman's body was returned from Montevideo, Uruguay, on Feb 27 and is scheduled to arrive in Jakarta on March 2, the Indonesian Embassy in Buenos Aires noted in a statement here on Wednesday.

Zais' body will then be handed over by the workers of placement agency PT Bahari Kru Manajemen to his family in Ambon, Maluku.

"Zais suffered from acute pulmonary edema that has sparked a problem in his heart," the embassy's head for Consular Affairs Emil Dewantara stated.

Zais died on Jan 16 after his health worsened. The Chinese-flagged "Ouya 17" ship, where Zais worked, brought him to Montevideo.

Indonesia's Honorary Consulate in Montevideo Nicholas Potrie and several sailors witnessed the process of transfer Zais' body from the ship to an ambulance before it was identified and returned to his home country.

The Indonesian Embassy has also worked on coordination with the authority in Uruguay to return Zais' body to Indonesia and rejected the workers agency's plan to cremate the body.

"The Indonesian Embassy will ensure that Indonesian citizens' rights are protected and will provide consular help, including to return the seaman's body," Indonesian Ambassador to the Argentine Republic, Republic of Paraguay, and Oriental Republic of Uruguay Niniek Kun Naryatie stated. (ant)

President Joko Widodo handed over the People's Business Credit (KUR) assistance to approximately 600 farming and livestock business actors. The handover held at the Miftahul Huda Islamic Boarding School, Tasikmalaya, was part of the President's working visit to West Java on Wednesday, February 27, 2019.

The current government wants to encourage KUR distribution to businessmen in the production sector. This is so that the productivity of business people can increase while providing opportunities for them to develop their business.

"How much do you borrow KUR? Seven percent a year. You have to know. Because if it is not KUR, it is expensive, not that much. This is KUR subsidized by the government," the President explained the benefits of the KUR program.

The President also explained, the government currently has a lot of popular programs and people. It wants the people's economy and people to develop further. He asked the UMKM actors to really take advantage of a number of these programs.

"The government now has people's economic programs and people's economic programs. The first is the Mekaar program," the President said.

The Mekaar Program (Fostering the Prosperous Family Economy) is an empowerment service through group-based financing for underprivileged mothers. The service provides financial assistance in the amount of Rp2 to Rp.5 million, which is given in stages without collateral.

The Mekaar program has been running for the past few years by providing guidance and assistance to its customers in a number of regions. In the long run, Mekaar customers, most of whom are supermicro business people, are expected to be able to expand their business and move to become small or medium-sized businesses.

In addition to Mekaar, there is also a similar program in the form of Ultra Micro Financing (UMi) which targets micro-businesses that are in the lowest level and cannot yet be facilitated by banks.

"There is also a program called UMi. It is even smaller. Also the same, it can be used for small businesses at home," said the President.

Especially for boarding schools, the government also has a Micro Waqf Bank program which is currently in the development stage. This program aims to target the santri and the community around the boarding school environment to start a business or develop an existing business.

"This Micro-Waqf Bank has been established in 44 Islamic boarding schools. One cottage has a capital of approximately Rp.8 billion," said the Head of State.

The head of state said the program had been running for the past two years. Going forward, the government will build more Micro Waqf Banks in Islamic boarding schools throughout Indonesia.

"It has been running for two years. We want to evaluate and improve. Later the other lodges will also be given a Micro Waqf Bank," said the President.

The president hopes that the community will truly utilize a number of these programs. The government provides the greatest opportunity for the community to be able to improve living standards and welfare through the business sector.

"I hope that later on the program, as we give it this afternoon, we can continue to multiply and improve so that the people's economy, the economy of the people, really benefit from every program that exists," said the Head of State.

Also present accompanied the President, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution, Minister of State Pratikno, Minister of Religion Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, and Governor of West Java Ridwan Kamil. (setkab)