Mayor Aminullah Usman: Before The Pandemic, Banda Aceh Was Visited By More Than 500 Thousand Tourists

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno supports the development of halal tourism which is being initiated by Banda Aceh City.

"The city of Banda Aceh is rich in tourism potential, this must be packaged as closely as possible for the development of halal tourism. The Ministry of Tourism will support it", said Sandiaga Uno, in Banda Aceh, quoted from Antara, Monday, May 3.

Sandi said that there had been several special programs between the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and the Banda Aceh Government, which were related to events, increasing the capacity of human resources for the creative economy and developing destinations.

Sandi will offer the best human resources owned by Banda Aceh and Aceh to be sent to the nearest Tourism Polytechnic (Poltekpar), including in Bali, Palembang, and Bandung.

"The Tourism Polytechnic graduates that we manage are the target of the creative economy and tourism actors. Of course, we will do a pairing of the program so that we can improve the preparation of these human resources in a measured manner", Sandiaga said.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Banda Aceh Aminullah Usman hopes for the full support of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy in order to promote tourism in Banda Aceh.

In line with the concept of halal tourism that is now being echoed by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Banda Aceh has a number of favorite tours that are often the target of domestic and foreign tourists.

"Religious, cultural and historical tourism, tsunami education, nature, and culinary tourism. The five tourist destinations have proven to be able to attract foreign tourists, especially from Malaysia and Singapore", said Aminullah.

He said, in 2019 Banda Aceh succeeded in increasing tourist visits to more than 500 thousand. There has been a significant increase in the past few years, or before the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, during the pandemic, tourist visits to Banda Aceh decreased quite drastically, even reaching 65 percent. This condition has an impact on tourism actors in Banda Aceh.

"However, the development of Banda Aceh tourism in early 2021 has begun to revive, especially for domestic and local tourists or Acehnese citizens", he said.

Aminullah emphasized that the government continues to strive to innovate so that MSMEs remain empowered even though tourist visits have decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Banda Aceh halal tourism, continued Aminullah, is a business opportunity to use creativity and flexibility in serving the various needs of tourists.

Currently, the Banda Aceh Government is arranging the Ulee Lheue beach area to be developed into a tourist destination complete with supporting facilities such as a place of worship with a miniature of Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, as well as a location that provides a variety of typical Acehnese culinary delights.

"Therefore, we really hope for the full support of Mr. Sandiaga Uno and the Ministry of Tourism to encourage the development of halal tourism in Banda Aceh", he said.