Batola partners SBI to develop tourism village, Curiak Island

Marabahan, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The Barito Kuala or Batola District Government has embraced Sahabat Bekantan Indonesia (SBI) Foundation to develop eco-tourism at Curiak Island and Muara Kanoko tourism village.

The Batola government, for this purpose, has sent a team which consisted of Head of Youth, Sport, Culture, and Toruism Office (Disporbudpar) Gusti Ruspandi, Head of Anjir Muara Sub-district Hidayatullah, Head of Prokopimda Hery Sasmita, and Head of Government Affairs Daftiar Fajar to obeserve the two location. 

Curiak Island, an island formed from Barito River delta, is where SBI protects and conserves proboscis monkeys (locally popular as bekantan) and has built a research station here. 

While in Kanoko tourism village, Anjir Muara, Barito Kuala, a Mekar Lestari Local Fruit Park was recently built. 

When the team came, they were welcomed by the Chairperson of SBI Amalia Rezeki with her team at the Bekantan research station. 

Head of Prokopimda Hery Sasmita explained that Regent Hj Noormiliyani AS hoped that the natural beauty and the abundance of exotic animals on Curiak Island as natural potential as well as tourism potential of Barito Kuala would be regret if it does not develop.

Amalia Rezeki said Curiak island is a sexy tourist destination for tourist with special interests.

“Every year we have a quota of 100 tourists and this quota is always filled, especially before the pandemic,” she said.

The potential of Curiak Island, which is located in Marabahan Baru Village, Anjir Muara Sub-district, has received attention from the Ministry of Tourism. 

In the near future, the Minister of Tourism Sandiaga Uno will review the tourist sites of Curiak Island and Kanoko toruism village.

“It is estimated that (Minister) Sandiaga Uno will visit after Ramadhan, possibly July or August. That's why today (we) together with a team from Barito Kuala are preparing addtitional facilities,”  added the chairperson of SBI.

SBI together with Batola government are planning to build a footbridge and gazebo along the Kanoko tourism village to research post of Bekantan in Curiak. 

Amalia said that in the gazebos there will be aducational facilities for visitors.

In addition, she hopes, together with Batola government to develop the area into special interest environmental tourism, because it has complete potential, such as unique tidal farming to floating fisheries market.

“The area of Curiak island in Marabahan Baru has great tourism potential and will be unfortunate if it is not developed,” said Amalia.

Head of Disporbudpar Gusti Ruspandi welcomed the idea todevelop this tourist area. 

He said his party will assist the development of this tourist area as directed by the Regent. “With the existing capabilities we will help to facilitate the development of this tourism area,” he said.