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Aceh eyes more foreign tourists
High hopes: An interior view of the memorial and museum built in Banda Aceh to commemorate the 2004 tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people
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High hopes: An interior view of the memorial and museum built in Banda Aceh to commemorate the 2004 tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people. The region's annual target of 75,000 foreign tourist arrivals has been reached and the Banda Aceh Culture and Tourism Agency is set to increase the target to around 90,000. (AP/Binsar Bakkara) (AP/Binsar Bakkara)
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span class="inline inline-center">High hopes: An interior view of the memorial and museum built in Banda Aceh to commemorate the 2004 tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people. The region's annual target of 75,000 foreign tourist arrivals has been reached and the Banda Aceh Culture and Tourism Agency is set to increase the target to around 90,000. (AP/Binsar Bakkara)
Since an Indian Ocean tsunami devastated Aceh on Dec. 26, 2004, the region has been widely recognized across the globe, according to the head of Banda Aceh's Cultural and Tourism Agency, Reza Fahlevi.
"Tourists often visit the locations where the tsunami struck, such as the floating ship, the Tsunami Museum and Ulee Lheu Mosque," Reza told tempo.co on the sidelines of the 11th tsunami anniversary at Rahmatullah Mosque in Lampuuk on Saturday.
He added that the region's annual target of 75,000 foreign tourist arrivals had been reached and that the agency was set to increase the number to around 90,000.
"The largest number of foreign tourists to Aceh come from Malaysia. Meanwhile, the majority of domestic tourists come from North Sumatra," said Reza, adding that the region aimed to reach 1.8 million in total annual tourist arrivals.
He acknowledged that Aceh faced challenges to the development of its tourist sector, including a lack of quality services, insufficient infrastructure and a shortage of trained tourism personnel.
"We will continue to fix these issues together with other tourism players in Aceh," said Reza.
The province is home to at least 800 listed tourist sites, spread across 23 regencies and cities, including tsunami heritage sites, maritime sites, underwater vistas and serene lakes. (kes)(+)
