20 Japanese And Hong Kong Tourists Visit Curiak Island Amati Bekantan

Tourists from Japan and Hong Kong visited Curiak Island, Barito Kuala Regency, South Kalimantan as a place of conservation for defenders. (ANTARA/Firman)

A total of 20 tourists from Japan and Hong Kong visited Curiak Island, Barito Kuala Regency, South Kalimantan, a place of cage conservation to observe the unique long-nosed monkey as an endemic animal on the island of Kalimantan.

"We invited this foreign tourist to Camp Tim Roberts at the Bekantan Research Station to witness the defenders in the wild of the mangrove rambai forest typical of wet land," said Director of Tourism Development for Special Interests for Friends of the Indonesian Defenders (SBI) Foundation Ferina in Banjarmasin as reported by ANTARA, Monday, May 22.

After being satisfied with observing the life of the defender, the foreign tourists were also invited to Renangi Island to see the process of making traditional or jukung boats, as well as the daily activities of the people who are full of culture and local wisdom as people along the Barito river.

The visit of Japanese and Hong Kong tourists this time was closed with river crossing tours in Banjarmasin City which became the venue for the monument to a statue of a statue on the banks of the Martapura river, Jalan Captain Pierre Tendean.

Ferina revealed that Japan is one of the countries that often visits special interest tourism to observe the natural behavior of defenders in the Bekantan Research Station on Curiak Island.

The largest visitors are for tourism with special interest, especially from Australia and Europe, which are dominated by universities and natural tourism enthusiasts.

Even in July, Curiak Island will also receive visits from groups of tourists from Australia about 40 people holding "home course" or summer class learning programs.

To welcome the arrival of tourists who want to stay overnight and enjoy the night atmosphere in mangrove forests, SBI has built a simple lodging and camping ground facility this year.

In addition, it will also provide canoes for small river crossing activities in the mangrove forest area of Curiak Island.

"Tourism trends of special interest are currently increasing and we are optimistic about the development of this tourism because in addition to promoting conservation and preserving nature, it also increases the economy of the local community," said Ferina.

Bekantan is an endemic monkey that only lives in Kalimantan, especially on the outskirts of forests near rivers, peat swamp forests, freshwater swamp forests, mangrove forests and sometimes into remote areas.

Endemic animal with the characteristics of a long and large nose with reddish brown hair becomes the mascot of the fauna of South Kalimantan.