Page 176 - Colours Magazine June 2017

174 Indonesia WOW!
LAMPUNG:
SUMATRA STARTS FROM HERE!
By Hermawan Kartajaya
Founder and Chairman of MarkPlus, Inc.
It’s not just a saying! M. Tazbir, Deputy Assistant Business Development and Government Segments, Ministry of Tourism, who often travels to and from Lampung, would certainly echo these words.
Access to Lampung from Jakarta is easy, but it needs to be complemented by easy access to the many attractions, which can be ensured through improved road conditions.
A good range of amenities with decent accommodation for families needs to be developed in the area by attracting investment from various parties. All human resources must also be trained thoroughly and consistently in outstanding hospitality.
As for the people of Lampung, there is nothing to worry about there! Lampung is often referred to as ‘Mini Indonesia’, and its residents originate from various regions of the archipelago. This is probably what makes them so ready to welcome tourists.
As the three ‘A’s come together, Lampung could be referred to as the ‘Pearl of Sumatra’ as it becomes an unmissable destination for tourists from Jakarta who are travelling all the way to Palembang.
Similarly, travellers from Surabaya are now interested in visiting Banyuwangi, considered to be ‘The Gateway to Bali’ for tourists embarking on a ‘Java–Bali Overland’ tour.
Sumatra, get ready for that too because Lampung is ‘The Real Gateway to Sumatra’.
“Which other province links the highway from Java to Sumatra?” he asked me.
It turns out that ASDP Indonesia ferries can take you from Jakarta to Bakauheni – a town in the southern part of Lampung – within 2.5 hours. From there you can reach Bandar Lampung within a half-hour drive.
“It might be possible for Jakarta people to reach Bandar Lampung faster than they can reach Bandung,” quipped M. Ridho Ficardo, Governor of Lampung, at the recent Jakarta Marketing Week-5 (JMW-5).
Understandably, the ight to Bandar Lampung from Jakarta hardly spends
any time airborne before touching down: less than 40 minutes!
In addition, Indonesia’s former deputy minister of tourism Sapta Nirwandar, who is originally from Lampung, was present at the event. He mentioned several fascinating facts about Lampung that truly impressed me. He talked about the dazzling Lampung Bay, and elephant conservation at Way Kambas National Park, as well as the eco-friendly Kalianda Beach Resort, not to mention Lampung’s culinary treats, which are destined to awaken tourists’ taste buds.
There is also a ‘dental shark’ at Pegadungan Beach in Tanggamus, which resembles the beaches in Raja Ampat and the Maldives.
Furthermore, there is the Krakatoa Festival, organised every year to commemorate the destructive power of Krakatoa volcanic island. ‘Anak Krakatoa’, which was formed as a remnant of the 18th-century volcanic explosion of Krakatoa, is located in the sea in the province of Banten.
The 36-year-old Lampung Governor M. Ridho Ficardo has been working hard to realise his dream of making Lampung one of the top three tourism destinations in Indonesia.
Not only has he entered an agreement with ASITA Bali to redirect more foreign tourists to Lampung, but he also organises the Tong Tong Annual Exhibition, a festival of European– Indonesian culture, in the Netherlands and Hungary. The key for this area is determining how nature-based tourism can be transformed into mass tourism targeting various segments.
In this endeavour, the beautiful sea – nature’s gift to the area – already exists. The coastal area of Krui boasts big waves, and is considered one of the best sur ng locations in the world and a hotspot for foreign tourists wanting to challenge their sur ng skills.
Dolphins can even be seen in the area of Kiluan Beach. The sea is indeed nature’s gift to mass tourism, as it can be developed to create many attractions. However, this attraction should be rapidly and consistently balanced with the other two As: accessibility and amenities.
© Farizun Amrod Saad / Shutterstock