Banyuwangi Increasingly Attracting Travelers

JAKARTA, May 29 (Antara) - The charm of Banyuwangi District's tourism not only lies in its natural beauty but also the variety of culinary and cultural attractions that continue to lure both domestic and foreign tourists to visit the district. Banyuwangi is increasingly in demand among travelers, including for the diverse needs of the Meeting, Incentive, Conference, Exhibition, and thus, the supporting facilities continue to be improved. Every year, the number of tourists visiting Banyuwangi District continues to increase. They come, not only for travel but also to attend comparative studies and seminars. Looking at the number of tourists who continue to arrive in Banyuwangi, District Head Abdullah Azwar Anas has noted that the tourism supporting facilities will continue to be improved, including the construction of a four-star hotel that will operate in the near future. "In addition, some other new hotels are being built to accommodate the ever increasing number of tourists," Anas remarked in Banyuwangi on Saturday. He explained that in 2016, more than 24 thousand people from various government agencies across Indonesia had visited Banyuwangi for a comparative study, and until March 2017, thousands more from over 100 government and private agencies had arrived in the district. "That figure does not include tourists who really want to vacation in Banyuwangi, which reached more than 75 thousand foreign tourists last year, not including domestic tourists whose numbers were much more," Anas remarked. Banyuwangi is located in the easternmost tip of the island of Java, directly adjacent to Situbondo in the north, the strait of Bali in the East, and the Indian Ocean in the south. Popular tourist attractions in Banyuwangi are the Red Island Beach, Ijen crater located at an altitude of 2,443 meters above sea level, with a depth of 200 meters, Teluk Hijau or Green Bay, and Tabuhan Island, among others. The island is an ideal location for people who want to go scuba diving, as the waters are very clear. The Lider Banyuwangi waterfall in Watu Dodol, Plengkung Beach, is another tourist attraction. To be able to reach the Lider waterfall, visitors must travel 45 kilometers from the city of Banyuwangi. Watu Dodol is located in the Ketapang Village, not far from Ketapang Port, and close to the main road leading to the Baluran National Park. Visitors can enjoy the scenic Watu Dodol to witness the coastal area along the road, with hills on both sides. The Plengkung Beach, which is ideal for surfing, is another renowned tourist attraction apart from the Red Island Beach in Banyuwangi The best time for surfing at Plengkung Beach is between May and mid-October. For the past several years Perum Perhutani has put serious efforts to develop tourism on Java Island and to promote tourism attractions to an international audience. Besides promoting tourist attractions, Perhutani is also making every effort to attract foreign investors to invest in the Red Island tourism sector. The unique and innate character of the surrounding hills of Red Island beach has made Banyuwangi in East Java one of the favorite tourist destinations. Situated at Sumber Agung village in Pesanggaran district, some 60 kilometers south of Banyuwangi city center, the Red Island beach has become one of the leading destinations after it has been promoted through the international surfing competition on a regular basis since 2012. The Red Island beach, stretching three kilometers long with golden sand and spectacular waves, is an ideal location in Banyuwangi for visitors to engage in activities, such as snorkeling and surfing. In addition, the Banyuwangi district government is developing an integrated tourism market in the city's south side entrance that would resemble Thailand's Chatuchak weekend market. The Banyuwangi district head state recently that the market will be integrated with a bus terminal and lodging facilities to cater to the needs of local and foreign tourists. "We expect this market to be the main destination for tourists looking for Banyuwangi's typical souvenirs and items. Using the same concept as Thailand's Chatuchak market, which is segmented for tourists, we are trying to develop this market using a new design that will combine a tourist terminal and lodging facilities," Anas noted. The bus terminal will serve as a transportation hub for tourists keen on visiting other tourist sites in Banyuwangi, while merchants in the public market will sell various items, such as "batik" traditional fabric, crafts, souvenirs, and also daily food items. In a bid to create a tourism ecosystem, Anas expects the modern-go green market, designed by national architect Andra Matin, to be opened to the public by the end of 2017 or in early 2018. On September 15, 2017, Banyuwangi will organize the Banyuwangi Sail Yacht Festival as part of the annual festival. In February 2017, the Tourism Ministry awarded Banyuwangi District as the best festival city in Indonesia. Since 2012, Banyuwangi has successfully organized annual festivals. Besides, the implementation of the annual festival has improved quantitatively and qualitatively. This year, Banyuwangi has planned 72 activities to enliven the 2017 Banyuwangi Festival. Tourism Minister Arief Yahya lauded Banyuwangi for organizing the annual festival that helps in preserving the local culture and traditions and boosting the local economic conditions. Thanks to the festival, Banyuwangi is dubbed as "the Sunrise van Java," that has attracted some 80 thousand foreign tourists and 3.2 million domestic tourists last year.