Recovery of Lokop River Tourism Destinations is on the Priority Agenda of the Ministry of Tourism
JAKARTA - The Ministry of Tourism ensures that the Lokop River tourist destination in Serbajadi District, East Aceh Regency, Aceh, will be one of the main focuses in the post-disaster recovery program for the flash flood that hit the area.
"Entering the crucial stage of recovery and reconstruction after flash floods, of course, the Lokop River tourist destination will be a priority," said the Ministry of Tourism as quoted by ANTARA.
The Ministry assessed that Lokop River was one of the destinations that suffered the most severe impact due to flash floods. The tourist area, which was previously known for its suspension bridge and natural panorama, is now undergoing drastic changes.
The landscape in the Lokop River area is reported to have changed significantly. The area that used to be a river flow and a tourist attraction, has now turned into a stretch of sand due to the shifting of the river channel.
"Currently, the Lokop River cannot be used as a tourist attraction," said the ministry.
For this reason, the Ministry of Tourism encourages the strengthening of cross-sectoral collaboration to accelerate the recovery of tourist destinations in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra which were affected by flash floods.
A number of strategic steps are being prepared, including increasing the readiness of destinations through the provision of disaster mitigation facilities, the preparation of evacuation routes, tourism human resources (HR) training, and strengthening coordination with local governments and related institutions.
This effort is also accompanied by continuous socialization to the public and tourism actors so that they have adequate understanding and ability in dealing with emergency situations.
In maintaining the image of tourism in the midst of a disaster, the Ministry of Tourism also implements tourism crisis management, including providing accurate and coordinated information to the public.
In addition, destination recovery will also be carried out through the implementation of tourism recovery programs, installation of safety facilities, and re-promotion of tourist destinations after the condition is declared safe.
Previously, the Head of the East Aceh Regency Tourism, Youth, and Sports Office (Disparpora), Syahril, said that almost 80 percent of the tourist attractions in his area were damaged, both mild, moderate, and severe, including the Lokop River destination.
He explained that the impact of flash floods on the tourism sector in East Aceh was quite extensive and significant. One of the most striking impacts was the change in the course of the Lokop River, which was no longer in its original path.
"The river, which was previously a tourist destination, has turned into a sand field," he said.
Due to the impact of flash floods, the river flow moved to the foot of the mountain. This condition makes the area which was previously crowded with tourists can no longer be used as a tourist attraction.
Lokop River, according to Syahril, is a real example of changes in the landscape due to disasters. The flagship destination, which was previously known for its clear water and natural beauty, is now in total disrepair and requires serious handling in the recovery process.
In addition to Lokop River, heavy damage was also reported at a number of beach tourist destinations. In the Matang Rayeuk area, East PP Idi District, almost all tourist huts along the coast were damaged by the impact of flooding and sea waves.