T

he Banyuwangi regency administration in East Java will hold the Banyuwangi International Surfing Competition on Merah Island, Pesanggrahan district in Banyuwangi regency as part of an effort to promote its ecotourism potential.

Besides Japanese surfers, the event will also welcome attendees from New Zealand, the United States, Australia and several European countries.

Banyuwangi regency secretary Slamet Karyono said so far 10 countries had registered for the event slated for May 24-26.

'We will never give up promoting Banyuwangi to the international world. We have carried out promotional campaigns abroad so tourists would not only know Bali but also want to visit Banyuwangi, which is only 103 kilometers from Denpasar, Bali,' Slamet told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

He said the international surfing competition was initiated by surfers from Bali, grouped in the Blue Fin Surfing Factory and Merah Island Community. Participants will stay at local home stays to gain first hand experience of the culture and traditions of the Banyuwangi community.

'By staying at the homes of locals, participants can experience the real impact of tourism destinations development,' Slamet said.

'They will also be treated to Banyuwangi coffee and a number of cultural attractions.'

Apart from training on how to become guides and foreign guest hosts, Slamet added that the local administration was working with travel agents to provide training to local residents so they would be able to communicate in English.

The residents' homes will also be reorganized so they would become a comfortable place for foreign guests.

Merah Island, one of the 15 islands in Banyuwangi, is shaped like a small hill and has a pristine white sandy beach that stretches some 3 kilometers (km). The island is located around 60-km south of the Banyuwangi regency administrative seat. It is situated within the Tumpang Pitu preserved forest, which is rich in gold reserves.

Merah Island Community leader Muswandi said surfers from Bali wished to develop the island into a surfing paradise as the island offered surfing conditions similar to those found in Kuta, Legian and Seminyak.

Muswandi added the surfing competition was not the first to be held on Merah Island. In April 2012, the Indonesia Surfing Community held the Indonesia Pro-Amateur Surfing Championship, where 80 participants from Java and Bali competed to conquer the waves.

Merah Island was also part of the route in the Tour de Ijen international cycling race organized by the regency administration in December 2012, with 23 national and international teams.

Banyuwangi Regent Abdullah Azwar Anas said his office would further develop ecotourism in Banyuwangi. Besides coastal tourism and surfing, Banyuwangi is also home to the Alas Purwo National Park and Mount Ijen crater, often visited by Japanese and French tourists.

'We have drawn up our city plan in such a way so as to preserve the ecotourism area. We have provided a 2,000-hectare industrial zone outside the ecotourism triangle area that we have called the diamond triangle; it is made up of the Alas Purwo National Park, Mount Ijen crater and Merah Island,' said Anas.

'I have issued a regency regulation requiring shopping malls to be built outside the ecotourism area. A number of investors have expressed their interest to do business in the area. I have also issued a strict regulation, including the banning sales of things below Rp 50,000 [US$5.14],' he said.

He added the ban would prevent traditional markets from closing down and raise people's income.

He said his office had issued strict regulations for investors planning to build hotels in Banyuwangi.

'Currently, two hotel investors, Santika Group and Alia Group, have expressed their commitment to using only local food and fruits. The Alia Group will even build an ecohotel and empower local fishermen to be involved in the tourism sector,' he said.

Both hotel chains plan to start operation in 2014. Banyuwangi currently hosts four 4-star hotels.