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Raja Ampat's blossoming tourism
Tourism may have only touched Raja Ampat in West Papua province over the past decade but today, the archipelago â dubbed the last paradise on earth â seems to be on everyoneâs holiday wish list
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Tourism may have only touched Raja Ampat in West Papua province over the past decade but today, the archipelago ' dubbed the last paradise on earth ' seems to be on everyone's holiday wish list.
Otto Ferdinand from Jakarta is one person who had Raja Ampat on his wish list of diving destinations. He had heard many good things about the place but tried not to set his expectations too high.
As he stepped foot in Raja Ampat, Otto, who has dived in Bali, Pramuka Island in the Thousand Islands as well as Manado in North Sulawesi, was spellbound.
'When I dived at Raja Ampat, I was stunned by almost everything ' it was unbelievably beautiful,' Otto said. 'It didn't feel like I was underwater as the visibility could reach 40 meters. I could see clearly just like on land.'
It was not only the crystal clear visibility that amazed him; the density and varied color of the coral, the varieties of fish and the endemic underwater species also took him by surprise.
Raja Ampat, which means Four Kings, covers a 4.5-million-hectare area that consists of four big islands: Waigeo, Batanta, Salawati and Misool. Almost 80 percent of its territory is covered by water and the location is home to three quarters of known types of coral ' making it the world's most diverse living library for marine species.
Its reputation as one of the world's best diving destinations and its growing tourism industry helped Raja Ampat become the next location for the annual Sail Indonesia event, which will take place on Aug. 23 this year.
Raja Ampat tourism agency head Yusdi Lamatenggo said around 15,000 foreign visitors come to Raja Ampat annually, surpassing the number of domestic tourists at around 5,000 people.
Most tourists that come to the islands are divers who want to experience the area's underwater charm.
The Nature Conservancy's Bird's Head marine protected area technical advisor, Purwanto, said the increasing number of tourist arrivals in Raja Ampat had not hurt its natural resources just yet.
'I think the capability of Raja Ampat to accommodate tourists and divers is still big,' he said.
West Papua tourism agency head Edi Sumarwanto said the area started to develop tourism as one of its main industries when it became a regency in 2003.
'In the early 1990s, only scientists came to explore Raja Ampat's underwater world. The results of their research were then spread and soon attracted people's attention, especially divers,' Edi said.
Back then, no tourism facilities were available and visitors came to the region voluntarily to follow their interests in underwater exploration.
Edi said the first accommodation in Raja Ampat was Papua Diving, which was set up in 1993 and rented out only a few villas.
But as Raja Ampat has become increasingly popular, more diving resorts have been set up, in line with the increasing number of tourists.
Edi said the resorts are required to conserve the ocean environment, the lifeblood of the islands' tourism, while tourists have to pay entrance fees used to fund conservation, enforcement and community development programs.
Edi said the tourism boom had prompted local people to open affordable inns in Waisai, the capital of Raja Ampat.
Beatrix Chyntika Rahawarin, owner of Waiwo Dive Resort, said tourism began to blossom in Raja Ampat in 2012. 'In 2008, there were only two resorts, including ours, and now there are around five to seven resorts along the coastline, which are always fully booked during peak season,' she said.
She said homestays were also popular options during high season, which usually runs from October through December.
Beatrix said foreign tourists mostly came from Europe in order to dive, while local tourists were mostly non-divers who preferred snorkeling, trekking, bird watching and sightseeing.
'We usually take them to Kabui Bay, Hidden Bay on Gam Island, Wayag to see karst islands, and tourism villages in Arborek and Friwen,' Beatrix said.
Tourism villages and facilities, however, are mostly centered in Waigeo. At Misool, only two accommodation facilities are available ' namely Misool Eco Resort and Harfat Jaya Homestay.
Though less visited, Misool is in fact home to some interesting tourism sites, such as Harfat Jaya peak, Keramat cave and other caves that feature ancient paintings.
'Raja Ampat is really huge and that's our challenge in developing its tourism sector. But we haven't set any targets for its development. We will let it grow naturally to avoid environmental damage,' Edi said.
