For the Recovery of the Charming Sunda Strait

Kompas/Priyombodo

Guests take pictures at the Coconut Island Resort in Labuan, Pandeglang regency, Banten, Friday (27/12/2019). The area, which was devastated by the tsunami in December in 2018, has recovered. Hotel managers in the area are working hard to raise occupancy rates ahead of New Year celebrations. Cooperation between the local government and entrepreneurs is needed to restore tourist visits to the region.

The gentle ripples on white sandy beaches in Banten looked vigorous ahead of the new year. Accommodation rooms and tourist attractions have been prepared. The blue and shady stretch is no longer wistful as it was a year ago.

Ahead of the 2020 New Year, Christoper Chandra hopes that fortune will be on his side. Until Saturday (28/12/2019), only about 40 of the 85 Coconut Island resort rooms he manages have been booked. That number is much lower compared to last year.

Usually, two weeks before Christmas and New Year, all rooms are fully booked. Including when the tsunami hit the area a year ago, rooms were actually full. "This time we really hope that many will come to celebrate the new year here," he said.

It is not easy to recover the tourist industry that has been devastated by disaster. Not only the tourist area was devastated, the community and tourism players were traumatized. Not to mention the number of tourist visits that dropped dramatically.

However, Christoper vowed to stand up and rise. Dikes were built along the shores of the coast. The purpose is to anticipate if the tsunami recurs.

Not only the construction of embankments, other steps were taken to attract tourists. Room rental rates have also been slashed. Ahead of this new year, rooms with standard facilities are offered for only Rp 1.5 million per night. The price is much lower than during normal conditions, which usually reach Rp 2.5 million.

Anxiety about the recurrence of the tsunami still keeps tourists from vacationing in the west coast of Banten. A few months after the tsunami, Christoper recalled, there were tourists who wanted to stay overnight, but were hesitant to pay the lodging deposit. The reason, they were worried that if a tsunami happened, the money would be forfeited. Christoper tried to convince. "Finally it was agreed, if a natural disaster or force majeure occurs here, we will return all the money," he said.

A similar effort was made by Tanjung Lesung Resort. The manager of the resort, Widiasmanto, said that the repair works on the hotel buildings, which were destroyed by the tsunami, were finally carried out. The cost was not small. It reached a total cost of around Rp 10 billion for the renovation. "It\'s expensive. After the renovation was finished, now it seems like there has never been any disaster," said Widiasmanto.

To convince the tourists, the manager provides a safety guarantee from disasters. One way to do this is by installing three disaster mitigation devices that function to send signals in the event of an earthquake on the seabed.

Evacuation Route

Around the resort there are also evacuation routes. The hotel staffers were trained to improve their awareness of disaster mitigation. The back part of the hotel facing the sea was planted with Ketapang and Butun trees. Those trees are used to break the sea waves. "We are still planting more trees," he said.

While working to improve security in the area, the efforts to boost the image of the hotel were also carried out.

As the renovation was about to conclude, Widiasmanto asked all hotel employees to show the beauty of the resort through social media.

Various promotions are also offered. There are cycling packages around the tourist village. There is also a marine ride tour. Several new tourist spots have also been transformed in such a way to attract visitors. "As the new year approaches, promotions are optimized. Extra efforts are needed to restore this tourism," he said.

The players in the tourist industry realize there is no other choice but to recover "The Charming Sunda Strait". Not only the manager of the resort, small businesses also try various ways to attract tourist visits.

One of them is Sainan, 21, a banana boat business owner in Lagundi Beach, Carita. Previously, he set a banana boat rental fee of Rp 45,000 per person. After the tsunami, he slashed the rental price to Rp 25,000 per person. "The important thing is first to make tourists willing to come and see that here has completely recovered," he said.

Admittedly, the charm of Banten\'s west coast attracts tourists. Sea water in Karangbolong Beach, for example. The clear sea water is a special attraction for Timan, 38. Such scenery, for him, is not normally found in other tourist areas in Jakarta and surrounding areas. Not surprisingly, he was willing to come all the way from Jakarta to enjoy the afternoon in the Banten shore.

"I am here again to seek peace," said Timan, from Pondok Bambu, East Jakarta, in Karangbolong Beach.

The longing for natural tranquility also encouraged Amri, 45, to visit. "The atmosphere is calm and the waves are friendly," he said.

Although the number of tourist arrivals has begun to increase, Pandeglang Regent Irna Narulita said that tourism in Banten has not been fully recovered. She will send a letter to the provincial administration and central government so that the development of tourism is more optimal.