HST develops Meratus Mountains tourism

Barabai, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The district government of Central Hulu Sungai (HST), South Kalimantan, seeks to develop the tourism potential of the Meratus Mountains as an effort to improve the welfare of community and the potential for local revenue.

Head of the HST Youth, Sport, Culture, and Tourism Agency Mulyadi here on Monday said that the Meratus Mountains has a wealth of biodiversity potential to be developed for the tourism sector.

Besides developing natural tourism, from its forest and the culture of Dayak, the agency is starting to develop the potential of water tourism.

Meratus Mountain, which has been promoted to win the recognition of UNESCO as a global geopark, is a well-known site to international.

Not only it has the beauty of nature and culture, Mulyadi said, but there are other various tourism potentials from its rivers, rapids, and waterfalls. 

One of which is in the Village of Nateh, which is the spot of rafting.

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Deputy Chair of the Indonesian Rafting Federation (FAJI) chapter of South Kalimantan Bandi Chairullah said the potential of water tourism in South Kalimantan, especially the Meratus Mountains area, is no less than other areas, even other countries.

"If it is developed seriously and its natural preservation is maintained, the water adventure tourism in South Kalimantan will be able to beat similar attractions in other countries," he said.

Previously on Sunday (Sept 27, 2020), the World River Day commemoration was held in Nateh Village at the foot of the Meratus Mountains.

The village was chosen as the location of the commemoration because it offers a variety of uniqueness and beautiful panorama of forest, cave, and river.

The young figure and environment activist Berry Nahdian Forqan said it needs the support of all parties, both community and government to preserve and guard the area of Meratus Mountains, which is the world asset.   

The World River Day commemoration was marked by planting green trees along the riverside as a form of support for natural conservation efforts promoted by the government of HST better known as the Savemeratus Movement.