Curiak Island now with ecolodge to support proboscis monkey tourism

Banjarmasin, S Kalimatan (ANTARA) - Curiak Island in Barito Kuala District, South Kalimantan, is now equipped with an ecolodge or environmentally friendly accommodation to support tourism with a special interest in bekantan conservation, one of Meratus Geopark sites.

"For the first phase we are building three lodging with an ecolodge concept in the form of a typical wetland traditional Banjar house," said Ferina Fernanda, Director of Special Interest Tourism Development of the Sahabat Bekantan Indonesia Foundation (SBI) in Banjarmasin, Monday.

The accommodation facilities are intended for tourists, both domestic and foreign, especially researchers in the area of Proboscis Monkey (locally popular as bekantan) Research Station on the island.

Guests staying at the Bekantan Ecolodge will be invited to plant mangrove trees and other conservation activities. They also will be offered to follow the daily activities of the community of traditional fishermen look for fish with their local wisdom.

During the rice harvest season, they are invited to go around the nearest village to mingle with the community while studying typical and interesting daily life of riverside residents.

Ferina acknowledged ecolodge is an attraction for tourists, especially foreign tourists, because it has sustainable and environmentally friendly values and puts forward local wisdom that appeals to them.

According to Ferina, the construction of accommodation facilities with the ecolodge concept could be the first in South Kalimantan.

He hoped the support of local government through easy regulation for building and developing ecolodges in the future.

Ivana, one of doctoral students from Prague who stayed at the Bekantan Ecologde, said she was happy with the construction of the ecolodge in the Proboscis Monkey Research Station area on Curiak Island.

"I am delighted to be the first guest to stay at Bekantan Ecolodge," she said.