Sabang Festival expected to attract 30,000 tourists

The Third Sabang Festival is expected to attract 30 thousand tourists to visit Weh Island, Head of Sabang Culture and Tourism Zulfi Purnawati has stated. The festival will be held from May 21 to 25.

“In 2015, as many as 20 thousand tourists visited Sabang during the festival, and this year we have targeted 30 thousand tourists,” Zulfi Purnawati said here Saturday.

During the Sabang Fair, the exhibition of appropriate technology will be also conducted.

“As a result, some 23 contingents from the district/city will participate in the event. We are optimistic that 30 thousand tourists will visit Sabang,” Purnawati remarked.

The implementation of the fair was intended to promote tourism in Sabang as well other destinations in Aceh district.

Purnawati expected the contingent to utilize the annual event as part of its efforts to promote tourist destinations across Aceh.

Delegations from North and West Sumatra will also attend the festival.

Meanwhile, entrepreneurs in some ASEAN countries have expressed readiness to attend the festival.

Secretary Administration of Sabang Sofyan Adam, who is also the executive chairman of the festival, said that all contingents should confirm their participation.

“The committee has launched the enrollment drive and all contingents should report to the committee. We have also coordinated with the Sabang branch of state-owned ferry operator PT ASDP Indonesia to help with the implementation of the festival,” Adam remarked.

Earlier, the Ministry of Tourism (kemenpar) of The Republic of Indonesia stated that the success of tourism really depends on the presence or absence of comfort and hospitality of the community towards tourists at the location.

“The comfort of a tourist is the main factor which should be of concern to a region while developing the concept of tourism. It is not just a discourse,” Directorate General, Based on Media, Design, Science and Technology in the Tourism Ministry, Harry Waluyo said here Monday.

He stated this when opening a training course on human resources improvement for tourism at the Dharmas Indonesia University in Pulau Punjung.

The first impression for a tourist during his or her first visit depends on the service from the local community, and that is why one needs human resources with good manners, according to him.

“Do not let illegal fees damage tourism, that is the weakness of our community all this time while welcoming tourists,” he said.

“Develop tourism which other regions do not have, so that there will be a main attraction for tourists,” he explained.