Madura aims to become business center

Indra Harsaputra and Agnes S. Jayakarna ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Surabaya   |  Thu, 06/11/2009 1:13 PM  |  The Archipelago

The Bangkalan regency administration envisions turning Madura Island into a shopping and tourist hub like Singapore, as well as a business service center, following the opening of the Suramadu Bridge.

Bangkalan Regent Fuad Amin expressed the ambition to reporters in mid-February. He welcomed the presence of the Suramadu Bridge in the hope it would significantly improve the people's wellbeing in Madura. Besides the livestock sector, Bangkalan plans to establish shopping centers resembling those in Singapore.

To realize the goal, the Bangkalan regency administration is pushing ahead with its urban infrastructure projects and public facilities, such as building a 17,000-square meter Bangkalan Plaza, which is expected to cost up to Rp 57 billion (about US5.4 million) from its budget.

It would also build entertainment places and trading centers. The regency was rearranging traditional markets, such as the Ki Lemah Duwu traditional market, which will be rebuilt on a 3.5-hectare plot of land with some Rp 35.7 billion of the budget.

The Suramadu Bridge is believed to be able to develop tourism on Madura, dubbed a salt island.

Madura is thus far famous for its Karapan Sapi bull races and its pristine beaches; stretching from Bangkalan in the west to Sumenep in the east of the island spanning 5,000 sq km. Pamekasan is home to an eternal flame, also suitable to being developed into a tourist resort.

However, the tourism potential has not yet been optimally exploited. The beauty and uniqueness of Madura remain as stories among visitors and not many have enjoyed them directly.

According to East Java Asita tour operators association head Hariono Gondo Soewito, constraints include the lack of promotion of of Madura's tourism potential.

"If managed well, the tourism potential would also have a positive impact on the local people's economy."

Other negative aspects include very limited infrastructure and other supporting facilities, such as accessibility to tourist objects, clean water and good lodgings. These factors also limit package tours offered by tour operators to Madura to domestic visitors.

East Java Tourism and Cultural Office head Djoni Irianto concurred, saying thorough planning is needed to develop tourism in Madura, such as building supporting facilities.

"We are currently mapping out what is worthy of developing, due to high tourist potential Madura can offer to domestic and foreign visitors."

Pamekasan legislative councilor Hosnan Ahmadi said the legislature had issued 40 new local ordinances to anticipate negative influences from the Suramadu Bridge, such as an ordinance on tobacco trade arrangements and a bylaw to limit the distribution of alcoholic drinks.

East Java Deputy Governor Saifullah Yusuf said the administration had drawn up anti-vice ordinances in Madura and would put them into effect following the bridge's operation. "We invite investors to open factories in Madura, but we prohibit them from operating entertainment places, such as discotheques and brothels."

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