Young People Help Promote Tourism

ANTARA FOTO/HAFIDZ MUBARAK A

An aerial photograph shows a coastal road on the southern shores of Java in Cimerak, Pangandaran, West Java, Tuesday (22/5/2018). The national road connecting West Java and Central Java is an alternative route for travelers heading to their hometowns to celebrate Idul Fitri.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Young people are actively promoting tourist destinations in some parts of the country. With creative and innovative ideas, they manage tourist destinations with passion and promote tourism potential via social media.

The 32-year-old chairman of the Lubuk Alung (LA) Adventure tourism community, Ritno Kurniawan, and his colleagues have initiated various activities to promote water tourism at the Nyarai Waterfall in Gamaran Forest near Gumaran village, Lubuk Alung district, Padang Pariaman regency, West Sumatera. Their attractions include adventure tours to the waterfall and in the forest such as overnight camping, fishing and bird watching.

"We also involve former illegal loggers as guides," said Ritno on Friday. Today, Gamaran Forest, home of the Nyarainya Waterfall, is the best special-interest tourist destination in West Sumatera.

Many young people in West Sumatra are helping to promote the province’s tourism potential on social media. A number of Instagram and Twitter accounts have been used to promote tourism, such as @infosumbar and @sudutpayakumbuh. The two accounts are updated daily with the latest information on tourist destinations and activities.

Operations manager and @infosumbar founder Muhammad Irfan Mursyidin, 27, said @infosumbar currently has 377,000 Instagram followers and 68,000 Twitter followers that also helped promote West Sumatera tourism.

Young people are also spreading promotional tourism activities in other areas, such as Purbalingga and Banyumas, Central Java, on social media. A number of tourist destinations have also been improved, such as Jenggala Curug in Baturraden, Banyumas, and Kampung Warna in Bobotsari, Purbalingga.

In the Borobudur district of Magelang regency, Central Java, creative promotions for tourist attractions are growing. Local tourism communities are also taking advantage of the unique village life and vintage auto clubs to promote tourism as part of tourist packages.

The Borobudur VW Cabrio Community, which groups together owners of vintage VW Safaris, for example, offer tour packages that transport tourists in Volkswagen Safaris, which also offer opportunities to take selfies.

"On the way to tourist sites, visitors can take a selfie, either when the vehicle stops or while the vehicle is moving," said Prana Aji, chairman of the Borobudur VW Cabrio Community.

Photo tours

Photo tours targeting young people have been developed at the hot air balloon site in Talun Kacang village of Kandri subdistrict, Gunung Pati district, Semarang. In contrast to other tourist attractions, the hot air balloon site not only offers natural beauty, but also offers three unique photo themes: "Japanese Sakura", "Little Candy Land" and "Hot Air Balloon".

KOMPAS/KARINA ISNA IRAWAN

The hot air balloon site in Talun Kacang village of Kandri subdistrict, Gunung Pati district, Semarang, Central Java, Friday (25/5/2018).

Yopik Pandoyo, 24, a manager of the hot air balloon photo tour, said the local residents initiated the idea of starting a photo tour. The view from the backyards of local houses is very beautiful, overlooking the water of the Jatibarang Dam, which is surrounded by forests and Mount Ungaran. Local youths run the photo tour, including members the Karang Taruna youth organization.

Wanagiri village also offers a similar photo in Sukasada district, Buleleng regency, Bali, among the beautiful scenery of two sister lakes, Lake Buyan and Lake Tamblingan.

A number of special-interest tourism has also been developed in Malang Raya, East Java. The Jatim Park Group’s marketing and public relations manager, Titik Arianto, recently said in Batu that Jatim Park II, which manages the modern Batu Secret Zoo, had brought in an Indian rhinoceros, one of the largest species of rhinoceros in the world.

Adventure tourism that will pump adrenaline, such as paragliding over Mount Banyak along the border of the Batu and Malang regencies, is offering holiday discounts for tourists.

(ZAK/KRN/EGI/COK/WER)