COASTAL TOURISM IN TULUNGAGUNG, EAST JAVA

By: Asri Jul Megita (11614748) – 3SA01

Tourism is one of sector who get many attention in every country. One of area in East Java who development tourism is Tulungagung Regency. Begin from a district named Ngrawa, it develops into regency in East Java and now Tulungagung is as same as the other town in Indonesia. Tulungagung regency has thousands tourism object that interesting to be enjoyed by both, domestic and foreign tourists. However, the coastal tourism is the most popular among them all.  

Tulungagung is located in the southern part of East Java province, which is geographically adjacent to Indian Ocean. Therefore, this regency has many beaches and bay collections which very interesting and excellent. The beach attractions include Popoh Beach, Sine Beach and Molang Beach. 

1. Popoh Beach

The famous beach of Tulung-agung is Popoh Beach. This beach has known by both domestic and foreign tourists. Popoh is faced directly with Hindia Ocean and offers its exotic of beach. This attraction is located in the south of the city is about 30 km which is precisely in the District Besuki. It lies in the bay area, making waves on the beach is not so great. The natural landscape is very exotic beaches where there will be cliffs around the coast.

In this tourism object, you can enjoy the beautiful of nature scenery, astonished with a thousand temples; enjoy the swimming pool, and fauna. In this Popoh Beach is also equipped with lodges facility, fish market, marine tourism, and a few places for fishing. The communities around always held a traditional ceremony called ì Labuh Semboyoî by wash away sacrifice of two goatís head to the sea for the ìrulerî of south sea (Indonesia Ocean). That ceremony is aimed to get a lot of fish from south sea.

These are the analysis of Popoh Beach based on SWOT analysis:
Strength
* Have a regular art performances attractions
* Have a lot of facilities
* Security preserved conducive
* Name already popular
* The access to the beach is very easy to reach, and there’s a public transportation to get there
Weakness
* Type of rocky coastal and wide beach just 6 m
* A lot of PKL (Pedagang Kaki Lima) or the seller who free to selling inside the beach
* Cleanliness is not well maintained
* Many agencies that houses so they overlap
Opportunities
* The number of visitors continues to rise
* There are boat tours
* There are already governing regulations of the development beach tourism
* Integrate the Reco Sewu object as supporting tourism
Threat
* There are no investors involved in the development of coastal
* Lack of awareness of visitors to the maintenance of attraction
* Travelers can not do the activity because the narrow beach and not sandy
* Damage to the beach by sewage and garbage from the river mouth Niama

2. Sine Beach

Not far from Popoh beach, there is a tourism beach that has already to welcome the visitors. It is Sine beach tourism, which located in Sine sub-village, Kalibatur village, Kalidawir district, about 35 km to east side of Tulungagung city. Sine Beach is a brownish white sandy beach, which usually used for sun bathing, with the waves that is quite large.  Not only that, in bright weather from this beach, we can see sun rise directly. The beautiful of sunrise in the sea, is the special characteristic of this beach. So that, many visitors called Sine beach as the Sun Rise beach.

Sine beach is absolutely a hidden heaven. The visitor can feel like it personal beach, because the beach is still deserted. There is no many food seller, or souvenirs, but just a fisherman village which is peace. The visitor will also meet with many tiny crabs here to accompany them walking along the beach.

In the north side of the beach there are cliff which has a lake and there is also a forest.

The accessibility to get there is so hard. The visitor must go through a long way with hard cliff on the side of the road. The direction board is rare. The main road to enter the tourism object have a cavity, but can still be traversed by vehicles. In addition to playing the water and enjoy the natural charm of its beaches, you can also see the activities of local fishermen who will go to the sea.

These are the analysis of Sine Beach based on SWOT analysis:

Strength

* It has a sandy beach, long and wide beach

* Cleanliness is well maintained

* Security preserved conducive

Weakness

* The promotion is only done when there is activity

* The infrastructure supporting a relatively minimal travel

* There are no coastal managers

* Hard access to get there

Opportunities

* Wave is harmless so it can do water sports

* It can developed educational tours of mangroves

* There are already governing regulations of the development beach tourism

Threat

* The number of visitors has not been recorded so that there is no income for the area

* No investor

* Risk of Tsunami

3. Molang Beach

Molang beach is one of beaches that has beautiful scenery as well as being one of the favorite beaches in Tulungagung of East Java. This is because the condition of Molang beach is still very clean, as well as the surrounding natural is still so preserved from damage. So obviously, it makes Molang Beach has become a favorite tourist destination for the traveler to take a vacation while at Tulungagung.

The location of Molang Beach attractions are located in Pucanglaban district, Tulungagung regency of East Java or more precisely in the village of Pucanglaban. Located in the southern part of Tulungagung downtown make the location of Molang Beach is also located near the border Blitar regency between Tulungagung.

The access Molang beach is quite easy to reach by the visitors who want to enjoy the beauty of Molang beach. To reach Molang beach you can through Pucanglaban district of Tulungagung. From Pucanglaban there will be an access road leading to Molang beach location. But the road to get there still has cavity.

Molang beach is on the southern part of Tulungagung facing the Indian Ocean. The beauty is so visible because the beach is a white sandy beach with some parts of the coast in the form of coral. However, due to Molang beach is one of the beaches that are the south coast of East Java, known as a fairly large waves of the Indian Ocean. Therefore you should not swim or play water at this beach because the waves were quite big rolls may be harmful your safety. During the trip to the beach, the visitors will also witnessed the panoramic from shrimp farms. Besides, there are two sources of freshwater that flows throughout the year. The water source named Umbul Drono and Umbul Pacar.

These are the analysis of Molang Beach based on SWOT analysis:

Strength

* In this beach can enjoy a panoramic view of the open sea and sunsets

* Cleanliness is well maintained

* Promotion intensively conducted for local support

* Security preserved conducive

Weakness

* The beach is steep and the slope is quite steep coast

* The access road is quite difficult and far from the city center

* There are no coastal managers

* Infrastructure supporting a relatively minimal travel

Opportunities

* It can enjoy the waves were quite loud

* It can developed a special interest tours fishing especially shrimp farms

* There are already governing re-gulations of the development beach tourism

* Got a local support

Threat

* The number of visitors slightly because access is difficult and far from the city center

* No investor

* The shrimp farm waste pollution around the coast

* Vulnerable to tsunami hazard and landslides

All and all, every beach in Tulungagung has their own characteristics. First, Popoh beach, based on SWOT analysis, is the most popular beach destination in Tulungagung. Many facilities are available in the beach and the access to get there is very easy and near the city center. However, Popoh beach cleanliness is not maintained well and many agencies that houses so they overlap.

Next, Sine Beach, based on SWOT analysis, is the nearby beach from Popoh beach but not as popular as Popoh beach. It is because the access to get there is hard and the facilities is not complete. Therefore, However, the Sine beach, which called Sun Rise beach, has beautiful sand and really clean and peace. Because the beach is still deserted.

The last, Molang Beach, based on SWOT analysis, is white sandy beach with some parts of the coast in the form of coral. The condition of the beach is also clean and there is shrimp farms there. However, the road access to get there still has cavity, the facilities is still not complete, and the visitor may not swim or play water at this beach due to the waves were quite big rolls. 

Criticism and Recommendation

This analysis shows that tourist activity in coastal tourist attraction in Tulungagung district has potential to be developed even better. The formulation of the strategy of the development of coastal tourist attraction is required to figure out the direction of short-term to long-term attraction development of beaches in Tulungagung district. Some of strategies that must be applied to take advantage of the Beach that is having good paved road access and having the event activities held regularly every year. The tourist support facilities and infrastructure around the beach also must be repaired so the tourist can be served properly. Those strategy of the development of coastal tourism in Tulungagung district can be used as master plan in the reorganization of the Regional Tourism Development in Tulungagung district to increase the number of tourists visit, marketing and promotion of tourism in a coastal tourist attraction.

A good tourism activity can provide benefits against the economic growth for the region, in particular towards the surrounding communities that have activity at the sights. The majority of personnel or members of the provider of tourist activity on the tourist attractions is the community that is far from the sights so that the impact of significantly less perceived attractions entirely by the community around tourist attractions. Recommended in particular tourist attraction development managers can be taken, the workforce of the community around tourist attractions. The development of tourism was expected to be a local community based so that economic growth can be felt all layers not only managers and local governments but the surrounding communities.

Development of coastal tourism in full is not entirely delegated to local governments only. Recommendations for beach attractions are to be open and loyal in order to attract investors or private parties to establish cooperation officially in the management and development of coastal tourist attraction. The same work can be done with the company the developer area or non-governmental organizations in the promotion and marketing minimally, hopefully there can be an attractive event or tourism zone establishment in coastal area in Tulungagung district.

P.S.

This beautiful nature is made by God not to be vandalized and destroyed. The tourist will always remember this: “Do not bring anything except photo, do not kill anything, do not leave anything but sweet memories.” Say no to vandalism! 

Wae Rebo

The Traditional Village of Wae Rebo on

The island of Flores

Hello everyone! How are you? What's your plan for this summer holiday? I recommended you to go to my beautiful country. It’s Indonesia! The perfect country to spend your summer holiday! I’d like to tell you about my favorite place, and it can be the best destination for your holiday. 

Come visit Wae Rebo! The traditional village of Wae Rebo is located in the district of Manggarai on the island of Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. This small and isolated village was recognized for its rebuilding of the traditional Mbaru Niang traditional house based on the spirit of community cooperation towards a sustainable tradition, while at the same time improving its village welfare. Wae Rebo is a small, very out of the way village.  

I love this place because this place is located some 1,100 meters above sea level, where the air is cool and the village completely surrounded by panoramic mountains and the dense Todo forest. I love the place which is not crowded and the air so clear! Absolutely the place that I hope to live for! This tropical forest is rich in vegetation, where you will find orchids, different types of ferns and hear the chirping of many songbirds. 

Founder of the village and, therefore, their main ancestor who built the village some 100 years ago, was a man called Empu Maro. Today, the inhabitants are his 18th generation descendent. He was a great man!

Wae Rebo’s main characteristics are their unique houses, which they call Mbaru Niang that are tall and conical in shape and are completely covered in lontar that from its rooftop down to the ground.  It appears that at one time such kind of houses were quite common to the region.  But today, it is only this village that continues to maintain the typical Manggarai traditional house, without which these unique houses would have been completely fazed out.

The house has five levels, each level designated for a specific purpose. The first level , cal led lutur or tent, are the living quarters of the extended family. The second level, called lobo, or attic, is set aside to store food and goods, the third level called lentar is to store seeds for the next harvest, the fourth level called lempa rae is reserved for food stocks in case of draught, and the fifth and top level, called hekang kode, which is held most sacred, is to place offerings for the ancestors.

One special ceremonial house is the community building where members of the entire clan gather for ceremonies and rituals. They are predominantly Catholic but still adhere to old beliefs. In this house are stored the sacred heirloom of drums and gongs.

With a small population of around 1,200 inhabitants only, the village comprises 7 houses, with half of these falling into disrepair. The staple diet of villagers is cassava and maize, but around the village they plant coffee, vanilla, and cinnamon which they sell in the market, located some 15 km. away from the village. Lately, however, Wae Rebo has grown in popularity as a tourist destination for international eco-tourism enthusiasts, and this has added to the economic welfare of the village.  The people of Wae Rebo warmly welcome visitors who wish to see their village and experience their simple traditional life.   

To get there, you can go by plane. But you must transit at Soekarno Hatta airport, then continue to to Labuan Bajo’s Komodo Airport on Trans Nusa airlines and Merpati. Trip to the village of Wae Rebo takes some 5 to 7 hours by car from Labuan Bajo on the west coast of Flores, hopping off point to the famous Komodo National Park. Alternatively, you may want to start your journey from the town of Ruteng, capital of the district of Manggarai, towards the village of Dintor, which takes around 4 hours. After this, the road goes uphill past ricefields until you reach Denge Sebu village.

In Denge, start the hike by taking the path between a local homestay and village SDK (elementary school). The hike will lead you across three rest spots. The first one is at Wae Lomba River, which is less than an hour from Denge. After another hour of trekking, you will find the second one, Pocoroko. This is an important place for villagers (and visitors) who want to make phone calls and send text messages from their mobile phones, as there is no mobile signal in Wae Rebo. From Pocoroko you will reach the third post, Nampe Bakok, which takes about 40 minutes. From here, enjoy the beautiful hill scenery before you reach Wae Rebo.

The village can only be reached by way of a three-hour hike (depending on your physical condition) from the lowlands. The hike is definitely worth the effort: the dense rain forest along the narrow path to Wae Rebo is one of a stunning biological diversity. Not only does it host interesting vegetation, including orchids, palms, and different ferns, but also an impressive population of singing birds. 

After you arrive, do not worry about a place to stay. If you wish to stay overnight, the villagers welcome visitors to their homes. Fun isn’t it? You even don't have to think about the cost of stay, it's free! Visitors are welcome to spend the night in the mbaru niang, and to socialize and dine with the Wae Rebo community. You will sleep on a tikar, a woven mat made out of pandanus leaf, in the mbaru niang, and get a taste of how life used to be when the extended families still lived their lives under one roof. 

When you there, you will not only see the authentic Manggaraian housing, but also get an opportunity to experience the daily life of the local people. You will see most of the people work in their gardens from early morning until dawn, busy with harvesting coffee and processing the beans. Even though weaving is not a major activity in Wae Rebo, you may encounter some women weaving traditional songket cloth. And the local people will give you songket cloth as souvenir and the best souvenir that actually will you get is the experience when you stay there, with local people which is so warm and beautiful scenery around the village. I promise, you will never regret going there. 

You can get more detailed information on Wae Rebo at http://www.florestourism.com 

Tomini Bay and Olele Beach (Gorontalo)

TOMINI BAY AND OLELE BEACH IN GORONTALO : Pieces of Paradise on the Equator
By: Asri Jul Megita

Hello everyone! How are you? What's your plan for this holiday? The place which is hot or cold? If you do not yet have a destination for vacation this time, you can go to Indonesia! Do you know Indonesia? Of course, Indonesia is a country that has a wide range of tourist destination which is no less beautiful than others. The destination for vacation in Indonesia is not only in Bali. There are many other interesting places are very beautiful. I recommended you to go to Gorontalo.

There are just so many things that make Gorontalo perfect for holiday, the beauty of its nature, the culture and not forget to mention, the friendly people. General information about Gorontalo, stated at North Sulawesi. Mountains, hills, shore line are the main characteristic of Gorontalo and it makes the island perfect for marine tourism. most of diving site take you just a few minute from town. Diving in Gorontalo mean diving within the richness of biodiversity, health and unique coral and reefs.

Lots of beautiful places could be found here. Tomini Bay, for instance, is famous for under water habitat and undefined creatures. There is several number of unsettled small islands. Tomini Bay is a heaven for divers, because the geographic position of Tomini Bay itself, which is crossed by the equator line, has naturally presented various kinds of sea creature inside. 
Desa Olele or Olele Village is well known as the wild diving spot among world class diver. Olele beach is a gate to underwater paradise. The amazing beauty of underwater life on this area has been recognize and proofed by the enthusiasm of the divers who come to Olele beach. The divers called Olele as Traffic Jam dive spot.
In Tomini Bay and Olele Beach, you can find some or maybe the most amazing underwater creatures such as :
- Giant Reef (Petrosia Sp.)
- School of Gobi Fish (Bryaninops erythrops)
- Salvador Dali reef (Petrosia lignose)
- Kipas Laut Biru (Acanthogorgia Sp.)
- Anemon Koralimorf (Discosoma Sp.)
- Nemo
- Ikan Behang (plectorhinchus chaetodonoides)
- Blenni (Escenius Caeruluventris)
- Cardinal Fish
- Not forget to mention that Gorontalo is the kingdom of Nudibrancia
- Seahorses and pigmy seahorses

Then to get there, you can go by plane. But you must transit at Soekarno Hatta airport then continue to Jallaludin airport in Gorontalo. You can also go by ship, then you arrived at Anggrek harbor. For the ticket, if you choose plane you must pay about 500.000 IDR - 750.000 IDR for Low Cost Carriage (LCC) plane. Then for ship, you need 150.000 IDR, but it takes a week. So I think It will be good to choose plane. Next, you have to ouse a minibus to get to the town.

Surely, it's impossible to you to just spend a day in there. Obviously, you need unless two days at night. So there are some resort that you can consider to choose. If you choose to stay at the town, you can choose the resort near the diving area. The cost of the resort is about 400.000 IDR - 500.000 IDR per person per night. It's so cheap, right?
Don't worry about the food and facilities. They will serve you with all facilities, and for the food they will serve our breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For the menu, you can try to choose traditional food package like Perkedel Ikan Nike (Nike Fish) and Pepes Ikan Nike.

Then, for the activity you can do ; sail with fisherman, fishing, snorkeling and diving. But to do fishing, snorkeling and diving, you need a stuff which like fishing rod for fishing and snorkel for snorkeling. The best diving season from November to April. You can experienced the encounter with dolphin (torsiops truncates) around Ferbruary to April.

Besides those activity, you can also go to see the Ayuhulalo waterfall, Boalemo Beach, Bolibuo Beach, and visit to Bajos Tribe Village which strong with the culture of Gorontalo. If you want to dive you need to rent a car or a bike to reach the spot. Most of the resort will give you a bike or a car to get to the spot as part of the service. 

Then for the last, it is about the souvenir. You can buy Kerawang, a traditional cloth materials which made by hand (man cloth and women cloth all ages) as a souvenir. Although Kerawang mada by hand but it doesn't look like a hand made at all. Its a must to buy and make sure its on your own list. You can also buy Ornaments of intricate carved wood are common in all the district.

So it's all about Tomini Bay and Olele Beach in Gorontalo, Indonesia. The place that is very beautiful and the place that are rarely visited by many people. Thus, the scenery is very beautiful, clean, like in heaven. Make sure you go to this place and make your holiday like unforgettable moment in your life :)

For further information, here are the contact person for one of travel agent in there :
Miguel's Diving Gorontalo
Address : Office at Gorontalo Oasis Hotel (Jl. Agus Salim No. 29)
Phone : +62 852 4004 7027
E-mail : info@miguelsdiving.com
Web : http://www.miguelsdiving.com/