Pro Poor Tourism

Pro Poor tourism is set up in developing countries as a means to improve the local economy for local people. It enhances the linkages between tourism businesses and poor people, so that poverty is reduced and poor people are able to participate more effectively in tourism development. The aims of pro-poor ranges from increasing local employment to involving local people in the decision making process. Any type of company can be involved such as a small lodge or a tour operator. The most important factor is not the type of company or the type of tourism, but that poor people receive an increase in the net benefits from tourism.

Source: http://www.ecotourdirectory.com/pro-poor-tourism.htm

Peliputan Pariwisata Belum Pro Rakyat

DENPASAR I SURYA Online - Guru Besar Fakultas Sastra Universitas Udayana Denpasar Prof Dr Nyoman Darma Putra mengatakan, peliputan media massa di Indonesia tentang pariwisata hingga saat ini belum mampu mengemas tulisan pariwisata yang prorakyat.

“Saat ini tulisan atau beritanya lebih banyak yang prowisatawan. Belum ada satu media di Indonesia, baik cetak maupun elektronik yang benar-benar mengemas liputannya untuk prorakyat,” katanya di Denpasar, Minggu (5/6/2011).

Ia mengatakan, dilihat dari isi secara keseluruhan, seluruh tayangan atau liputan tentang pariwisata sangat dipadati dengan informasi bagi calon wisatawan. Liputan didominasi oleh informasi tentang destinasi, seperti keindahan, keunikan dan aktivitas yang bisa dilakukan.

“Isinya adalah puja puji keindahan dan keunikan destinasi, bujuk rayuan kepada calon wisatawan agar bisa datang dan merasakan keunikan destinasi tersebut,” katanya.

Dikatakan, dengan banyak perhatian yang diberikan oleh media massa terhadap destinasi tersebut sangat memungkinkan bahwa media tersebut sangat tidak prorakyat, tetapi lebih propariwisata.

Menurut Darma Putra yang juga pengamat media mengatakan, sudah saatnya tulisan atau liputan pariwisata harus prorakyat, selain pro-”tourism”. Karena keduanya tidak bisa dipisahkan satu dengan yang lainnya.

Selain menyiapkan informasi destinasi sebanyak-banyaknya bagi wisatawan, tulisan perlu menyisipkan pemberitaan yang mengungkapkan tentang peran masyarakat setempat terhadap pengembangan destinasi atau kemajuan sektor tersebut.

“Media harus peka bila destinasinya banyak dikunjungi tetapi masyarakatnya tetap miskin atau hidup seadanya. Kalau kenyataan seperti itu, apa artinya perkembangan sektor pariwisata tersebut,” katanya.

Source: http://www.surya.co.id/2011/06/05/peliputan-pariwisata-belum-pro-rakyat

Discover Indonesia

The Republic of Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world comprising 17,504 large and small tropical islands fringed with white sandy beaches, many still uninhabited and a number even still unnamed. Straddling the equator, situated between the continents of Asia and Australia and between the Pacific and the Indian Oceans, it is as wide as the United States from San Francisco to New York, equaling the distance between London and Moscow.  Indonesia has a total population of more than 215 million people from more than 200 ethnic groups. The national language is Bahasa Indonesia. 

Among the most well known islands are Sumatra, Java, Bali, Kalimantan (formerly Borneo), Sulawesi (formerly Celebes), the Maluku Islands (or better known as Moluccas, the original Spice Islands) and Papua. Then, there is Bali “the world’s best island resort” with its enchanting culture, beaches, dynamic dances and music. But Indonesia still has many unexplored islands with grand mountain views, green rainforests to trek through, rolling waves to surf and deep blue pristine seas to dive in where one can swim with dugongs, dolphins and large mantarays.  

Because of her location, and geology, Indonesia is blessed with the most diverse landscape, from fertile ricelands on Java and Bali to the luxuriant rainforests of Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi, to the savannah grasslands of the Nusatenggara islands to snow-capped peaks of West Papua.

Her wildlife ranges from the prehistoric giant Komodo lizard to the Orang Utan and the Java rhino, to the Sulawesi anoa dwarf buffalos, to birds with exquisite plumage like the cockatoo and the bird of paradise. This is also the habitat of the Rafflesia the world’s largest flower, wild orchids, an amazing variety of spices, and aromatic hardwood and a large variety of fruit trees. Underwater, scientists have found in North Sulawesi the prehistoric coelacanth fish, a “living fossil” fish, predating the dinosaurs living some 400 million years ago, while whales migrate yearly through these waters from the South Pole. Here are hundreds of species of colourful coral and tropical fish to admire.

Culturally, Indonesia fascinates with her rich diversity of ancient temples, music, ranging from the traditional to modern pop, dances, rituals and ways of life, changing from island to island, from region to region. Yet everywhere the visitor feels welcomed with that warm, gracious innate friendliness of the Indonesian people that is not easily forgotten.   

Facilities-wise Indonesia’s hotels are second to none. In fact, many of our luxurious and unique hotels have constantly been listed as some of the best in the world, located on white sandy beaches, overlooking green river valleys, or situated in the heart of busy capital Jakarta. While Indonesia’s cities like Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, or Makassar are a hive of activities for business and leisure and a paradise for shoppers, offering upscale boutiques selling top brand names, to local goods at road-side stalls. Here gourmets can treat themselves to the many regions’ delectable spicy cuisine or dine sumptuously at international restaurants. And for sheer relaxation, Indonesia Spas are second to none to reinvigorate both body and mind.   

Convention centers are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, as many top international conferences and exhibitions are held in Jakarta, Bali to Manado, ranging from the Global Climate Change Conference in Bali to the World Ocean Conference in Manado , to trade and investment exhibitions and tourism trade shows in many provincial capital cities.

Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Padang, Bandung, Solo, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Makassar are connected by direct international flights, and many regular and low cost carriers fly passengers to Indonesia’s towns or remote locations. 

Source: http://www.indonesia.travel/en/discover-indonesia

A Little History of Medical Tourism

Medical tourism is often thought of as a recent phenomenon. The truth, however, is that people have been traveling long distances to better their health for thousands of years. Granted, it’s hard to picture a swarthy chieftain traipsing across the desert on his camel to barter for a nicer set of pearly whites. Were clinics and hospitals even around that long ago, thousands of years ago?

Archaeological evidence from the third millennium B.C. suggests that ancient Mesopotamians traveled to the temple of a healing god or goddess at Tell Brak, Syria, in search of a cure for eye disorders. A few thousand years later the Greeks and Romans would travel by foot or ship to spas and cult centers all around the Mediterranean. The Asclepia Temples, dedicated in honor of the Greek god of medicine, were some of the world's first health centers. Pilgrims would sometimes spend several nights in the temple, hoping Asclepios would appear in a dream and suggest a diagnosis or treatment. 

Later in the 16th and 17th centuries, spa towns such as St. Moritz and Bath became prime destinations for the European upper classes looking to soothe their ills. What kind of “procedures” were the ancients seeking? No butt lifts or hip and knee replacements, that’s for sure. Many were looking for “healing” waters or the benevolence of the gods to cure common ailments of the time such as rheumatism, syphilis, gonorrhea, blindness and paralysis.

Modern medical tourism as we know it today has largely been the result of several factors including the high cost of medical care in first world nations, ease of long distance travel, and advances in information technology.

Source: http://www.medicaltourism.com/en/a-little-history-of-medical-tourism.html

Sumatran Tiger

Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is a subspecies of tiger found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Genetic testing has revealed the presence of unique genetic markers, which isolate Sumatran tigers from all mainland subspecies. About 400-500 wild Sumatran tigers were believed to exist in 1998, but their numbers have continued to decline. According to the RSPB in March 2008 there were approximately 300 Sumatran Tigers remaining in the wild.

Characteristics

The Sumatran tiger is the smallest of the tiger subspecies as compared to the Siberian tiger which is the largest.

Sumatran male tigers average 8 feet (2.438m) in length from head to tail and weigh about 265 lbs.(120.2kg). Females average 7 feet(2.134m) in length and weigh about 200 lbs(90.718kg).

The smaller size of the Sumatran tiger makes it easier to move quickly through the jungle. Also, their stripes are narrower than other tiger species. The tiger's patterned coloring is an adaptation for camouflage in their natural habitat, which is often tall grass. The males, especially, have a more bearded and maned appearance — neck and cheek hair are well developed.

Webbing between their toes, when spread, enables the Sumatran tiger to be very fast swimmer. They will, if given the chance, run hoofed prey, who are much slower swimmers, into the water.

The white spots on the back of tiger's ears are called "eye spots" or "predator spots". These spots are believed to function as false eyes as well as to make it look larger to any predator approaching from behind. This is particularly helpful in keeping cubs safe.

Sumatran Tigers commonly prey on larger ungulates, like Wild Boar, Malayan Tapir and deer, and sometimes also smaller animals, like fowl, monkeys, and fish. Orangutans could be prey, but since they spend a minimal amount of time on the ground, tigers rarely catch one. Sumatran tigers will sometimes prey upon mice and other small mammals when larger prey is scarce.

Genetics and evolution

Analysis of DNA is consistent with the hypothesis that the Sumatran Tigers have been isolated from other tiger populations after a rise in sea level at the Pleistocene to Holocene border (about 12,000-6,000 years ago). In agreement with this evolutionary history, the Sumatran Tiger is genetically isolated from all living mainland tigers, which form a distinct group, closely related among each other.

Habitat

The Sumatran tiger is found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra in habitat that ranges from lowland forest to sub mountain and mountain forest including some peat moss forests. According the the Tiger Information Center and the World Wildlife Fund there are no more than 500 of these tigers left in the wild with some estimates considerably lower.

Sumatra has undergone much agricultural growth and as a result, tiger habitat has become fragmented with about 400 tigers inhabiting five National Parks and two Game Reserves. The largest population of about 110 tigers lives in Gunung Leuser National Park. Another 100 live in unprotected areas that will soon be lost to agriculture. The tigers that live in unprotected areas are very vulnerable to poaching as well as the killing of problem animals that come in contact with villagers encroaching upon the animal's habitat.

The continuing loss of habitat is intensifying the crises to save this tiger. Deforestation resulting from the production of palm oil is a major threat to the Sumatran Tiger. The reserves also do not provide safety, as many tigers are killed by poachers each year despite conservation efforts. According to the Tiger Information Centre and the World Wildlife Fund there are no more than 500 remaining Sumatran Tigers in the wild, with some estimates considerably lower.

The continuing loss of habitat is intensifying the crisis to save the Sumatran tiger.

Conservation

In 2006 the Indonesia Forestry Service, the Natural Resources and Conservational Agency (BKSDA) and the Sumatran Tiger Conservation Program sat down with commercial concession holders and Asia Pulp & Paper and set the foundations for the Senepis Buluhala Tiger Sanctuary, an area that covered 106,000 hectares in Riau by 2008. These organizations formed The Tiger Conservation Working Group with other interested parties and the project is recognised as a pioneering initiative. Current studies include the identifying of feeding behavior of tigers to develop strategies that will help protect both tigers and human settlements.

In 2007, the Indonesian Forestry Ministry and Safari Park established cooperation with the Australia Zoo for the conservation of Sumatran Tigers and other endangered species. The cooperation agreement was marked by the signing of a Letter of Intent on 'Sumatran Tiger and other Endangered Species Conservation Program and the Establishment of a Sister Zoo Relationship between Taman Safari and Australia Zoo' at the Indonesian Forestry Ministry office on July 31, 2007. The program includes conserving Sumatran Tigers and other endangered species in the wild, efforts to reduce conflicts between tigers and humans and rehabilitating Sumatran Tigers and reintroducing them to their natural habitat.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumatran_tiger

Orangutan

The orangutan is the only species of great ape living in Asia. The other three species of great apes, Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla), Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), and Bonobo (Pan paniscus), all live in Africa. 

There are only two types of orangutans: Sumatera orangutans (Pongo abelii) inhabit the forest in Sumatera and Borneo orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus)  which can be found in Kalimantan/ Borneo. The Malay word orangutan means "person of the forest." These long-haired, reddish colored primates are highly intelligent and are the closest relatives of humans, with 97 percent of their DNA identical to human DNA.

Orangutans have an enormous arm span. A male may stretch his arms some 7 feet (2 meters) from fingertip to fingertip a reach considerably longer than his standing height of about 5 feet (1.5 meters). When orangutans do stand, their hands nearly touch the ground.

Orangutans spend much of their time (some 90 percent) in the trees of their tropical rain forest home. They even sleep aloft in nests of leafy branches. They use large leaves as umbrellas and shelters to protect themselves from the frequent rains.

These intelligenct primates forage for food during daylight hours, with most of their diet consisting of fruit and leaves gathered from rain forest trees. They also eat bark, insects and, on rare occasions, meat.

Orangutans are more solitary than other apes. Males are loners. As they move through the forest they make plenty of rumbling, howling calls to ensure that they stay out of each other's way.

Mothers and their young, however, share a strong bond. Infants will stay with their mothers for some six or seven years until they develop the skills to survive on their own. Female orangutans give birth only once every eight years—the longest time period of any animal. The animals are long-lived and have survived as long as 60 years in captivity.

Because orangutans live in only a few places, and because they are so dependent upon trees, they are particularly susceptible to logging in these areas. Unfortunately, deforestation and other human activities, such as hunting, have placed the orangutan in danger of extinction. The BOS Foundation is currently involved in acquiring ex-logging forest concessions in Kalimantan to serve as release sites for its rehabilitated orangutans.  In order for the species to survive, it is imperative that the natural habitat of the orangutan is carefully preserved.

Because orangutans live in the top of the forest canopy, they can be considered the bellwether of the entire ecosystem of the rain forest. If life at the top of the canopy is healthy and thriving, so too will be life on the forest floor.  Therefore, it is crucial that the orangutan be preserved if we are to have any hope of rescuing our endangered planet from the threat of Global Warming, a phenomenon closely linked with the systematic destruction of forests in over the past century.

Source: http://orangutan.or.id/maincontent-1.html

Raja Ampat Diving - Indonesia