Get to Know Banjarmasin via Tour Bus

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

Residents ride a tourist bus at Taman Siring 0 Kilometer, Banjarmasin City, South Kalimantan, Thursday (29/10/2020). The tour bus is a new breakthrough for tourism activities in the city during the adaptation period for new habits.

Traveling on a tour bus in the city of Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, has become increasingly in demand by residents to ward off boredom during the COVID-19 pandemic. By adhering to health protocols during the one-hour journey, residents are entertained and also learn more about their city.

Tour bus passengers broke out into laughter when Mukani (53), the tour guide, threw in a riddle with an unexpected answer, Thursday (29/10/2020). Hilarious puzzles, rhymes and songs served as interludes between stories about the buildings, roads, bridges and landscape of Banjarmasin.

“There’s going to be a test after this, isn’t there?” laughed Evidoyanti (47) or Evi, a Banjarmasin resident. That day was the first time Evi rode a tour bus around Banjarmasin with her colleagues from Banjarmasin State Polytechnic.

Tour buses around the city are like rabbit trains or odong-odong. The passenger seat is an open cabin, with only a roof and an iron fence. The driver’s seat, however, remains within a closed cabin.

The bus journey starts from Taman Siring 0 Kilometer and ends there too. The bus crosses protocol roads in Banjarmasin, starting from Jl. Jenderal Sudirman to Jl. Hasan Basry. In total, there are about 11 roads that the tour bus passes for about an hour.

“We are not only entertained but we also gain experience and knowledge. As a resident of Banjarmasin, I can finally know more about the history and development of the city from these tour guides,” said Evi.

Even if your holiday is only in the city, it still feels like vacationing in another.

Having been so impressed with the tour bus trip, Evi felt like she was not in Banjarmasin at all. “It’s a very suitable thing to fill your holiday time with during the pandemic. Even if your holiday is only in the city, it still feels like vacationing in another,” she said with a smile.

Dewienta Pramesuari (21), another resident, was also impressed by the tour bus. The one-hour trip flew by because of the interactive and entertaining tour guide. “The tour was worth it because it was fun. I will definitely share this experience with my friends so that they become interested in riding a tour bus,” she said.

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

The officer provides an explanation to tour bus passengers at Taman Siring 0 Kilometer, Banjarmasin City, South Kalimantan, Thursday (29/10/2020).

To go for a ride on the tour bus, residents only need to come to Siring 0 Kilometer, Banjarmasin and pay a fare of Rp 10,000 per person. On weekdays, buses operate from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m., whereas on weekends and public holidays, they operate from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Hilmi (40), the tour bus driver, said that the bus was always filled on weekends and public holidays. It becomes quite crowded as residents also queue to get a ride on the bus. “On the weekend and public holidays, I can take up to 10 trips,” he said.

Public interest still high

According to Mukani, public interest in taking a city tour bus is still high since the bus first began operating on Oct. 5, 2020. The tour guides have also had to take turns guiding the short trip because they can get quite overwhelmed. “On weekends and public holidays, we can take about four trips a day, whereas on weekdays, we get 2-3 trips,” he said.

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

Residents queue for a tour bus at Taman Siring 0 Kilometer, Banjarmasin City, South Kalimantan, Thursday (29/10/2020).

High public interest has been welcomed by the tour guides who have been on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For six months, the guides did not earn any income because there had been no visiting tourists. “We are grateful for the response of the people who are willing to go on the one-hour trip on our tour bus,” he said.

Within an hour’s journey, Mukani tried to deliver various facts about the city, some of which may not have been known to residents. “We hope that residents will know more about Banjarmasin so that they can also love their city more,” said Mukani, who has been a tour guide since 1993.

Throughout the trip, the tour guides also always remind passengers to maintain cleanliness and adhere to the COVID-19 health protocols. “The bus also implements health protocols,” he said.

All bus passengers are also required to wear a mask and clean their hands with antiseptic liquid.

To reduce passenger density, the bus is filled to a maximum of 15 people from a total capacity of 20. Sitting side by side on the bus is only allowed for passengers traveling in groups or family. All bus passengers are also required to wear a mask and clean their hands with antiseptic liquid.

South Kalimantan Regional Representative Council (DPD) Indonesian Tour Guides Association chairman Guntur Mas said that the city tour bus belongs to the South Kalimantan Provincial Tourism Agency. For tourism purposes in the city, buses are managed by several tourism business associations across the province.

According to Guntur, the city tour bus has become a breakthrough for South Kalimantan tourism, which had been suspended by the pandemic. “Prior to the pandemic, we mostly guided foreign tourists. But now we can share the city of Banjarmasin with its own residents. Apparently, it’s not as easy as it sounds,” he said.

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

Officers give antiseptic liquid to passengers riding a tour bus in Banjarmasin City, South Kalimantan, Thursday (29/10/2020).

With the city tour bus, the eight tour guides will now be able to earn their incomes again. Passengers have also flocked towards street carts around Taman Siring 0 Kilometer. Thus, everyone will be able to benefit from the activity.