In the beginning, many people ridiculed Tino Christian\'s idea. They deemed it impossible to change the former mine into a tourist attraction. Moreover, the area had long been ravaged.
By
RHAMA PURNA JATI
·5 minutes read
ARSIP PRIBADI
Tino Christian
Tino Christian, 42, was subjected to ridicule for cherishing the idea of converting the Nam Salu open-pit tin mine in East Belitung into a tourist destination. However, thanks to his hard work, his once considered crazy idea has turned into a blessing.
Today, the Nam Salu open pit is loved by many tourists, domestic as well as foreign. Its status has also further shined following its declaration as one of the 17 geosites of the UNESCO Global Geopark Belitong.
The open-pit tin mining zone of Nam Salu is located in Senyubuk village, Kelapa Kampit district, East Belitung regency, Bangka Belitung Islands. It is around 35 kilometers from Manggar, the capital of East Belitung regency.
I wanted to change the mindset of the local community so as not to depend on tin mining but instead find more environment-friendly jobs, among others through tourism
Formerly, Tino was indeed engaged in mining operation. During 2006-2009, he worked with PT Menara Cipta Mulia to handle a base metal exploration project. Three years later, Tino moved to PT Freeport Indonesia, Papua, and worked there for about two years. “After completing my task in PT Freeport, I decided to return to my hometown,” he said on Saturday (24/4/2021).
Yet Tino was no longer interested in mining business and turned to be an environmental guardian. “I wanted to change the mindset of the local community so as not to depend on tin mining but instead find more environment-friendly jobs, among others through tourism,” he said.
His was so determined as he became aware that tin mining activity around Nam Salu would make the foot of Mount Kir Karak even more critical. The nearby protected forest was also threatened. He started a drive by managing a former open-pit area in Nam Salu to become a tourist spot in 2011.
In the beginning, many people ridiculed the idea. They deemed it impossible to change the former mine into a tourist attraction. Moreover, the area had long been ravaged.
Still, the assumption failed to make Tino lose hope. He continued to communicate his vision to everybody, especially village youths, by visiting schools around Nam Salu.
Their response was good, with a number of students eager to help Tino realize his dream. They began cleaning the mine, installing road signs as a guide for tourists. “At first, they were not paid, only provided with food. But they made no complaints and kept working in high spirits,” he related.
At first, they were not paid, only provided with food.
ARSIP PRIBADI
Tino Christian
Long history
Tino’s vision got even brighter when in 2016 the Bandung Institute of Technology Alumni 81 Foundation proposed to him that Nam Salu be made part of the Geopark Belitong. Various studies of Nam Salu were conducted. This zone has a long history and its tin mining activity is believed to have begun since 150 years ago.
The mining operation in Nam Salu at the time was presumably the largest and most modern in Southeast Asia. This is noticeable in its open-pit mining pattern and the presence of a 676-meter underground tunnel at a depth of 75 meters.
This unique geological feature has drawn many school and college students as well as researchers to visit the zone and undertake scientific studies. “Nam Salu has also created many academics and even doctors,” said Tino.
Through the Mining Village Nature School that he set up in 2017, tourists including researchers exchange views and have dialogues about various topics. The dialogues make village youths get a better understanding of the zone where they live.
“The geological uniqueness and educational activity have attracted tourists from several countries to visit,” noted Tino. They come from Europe, Australia, the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and many others.
TINO CHRISTIAN UNTUK KOMPAS
One of the former underground mining locations in the Nam Salu open pit area in East Belitung. This area is one of 17 Geosites that are members of the Unesco Global Geopark Belitong.
Village residents are also helpful and always friendly toward all the visitors. “Some of them are in fact still mining around Nam Salu, but the activity offers its own appeal to tourists,” said Tino. Even if fortunate, the tourists can get pieces of tin ore as souvenirs.
Tino admitted he could not force residents to shift from mining to tourism right away. “They still need money from the tin,” added Tino. The price of tin remains promising at around Rp100,000 per kg. Therefore, Tino focuses more on persuading youths to creatively develop tourism instead of tin mining operation.
Becoming a geosite
Nam Salu has now become one of the 17 geosites integrated in the UNESCO Global Geopark Belitong. This status is expected to produce a positive impact on Nam Salu as geological and educational tourism destination.
Before its declaration as a geosite, Nam Salu’s tourist arrival rate was quite high. From the middle of 2019 to the beginning of 2020, this tourist spot earned around Rp56 million. “With this new status, a lot more tourists are expected to be visiting,” he said.
They seem to be longing to come again.
Despite the pandemic period, there are still visitors coming by observing health protocols. Even, said Tino, visitors from Singapore and Malaysia had often asked when Nam Salu could receive foreign tourists again. “They seem to be longing to come again,” said Tino.
Dyah Erowati from the Indonesian Geopark National Committee’s Expert Council said Nam Salu was actually always yearned for because of the experience no other places could offer. After gaining the title of UNESCO Global Geopark Belitong, added Dyah, the Nam Salu open pit and 16 other geosites could be better safeguarded and bring economic benefits to the local community.
Tino Christian
Born: Tanjung Pandan, 24 May 1978
Education:
- UPTBEL II Kindergarten, Kelapa Kampit
- UPTBEL VII Primary School, Kelapa Kampit
- State Junior High School 1, Kelapa Kampit
- Health Ministry’s Dental Nursing School, Bandung
- Bumi Siliwangi 19 Senior High School, Bandung
- ARS International University Bandung
Occupation:
- PT Menara Cipta Mulia, base metal exploration, 2006-2009
- PTFI-PT Freeport Indonesia Papua, 2009-2011
- Management Board of Geopark Belitong, 2017- present
