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Sawahlunto considered for inclusion on UNESCO World Heritage List
Described as "the oldest coal mining town in Southeast Asia", Sawahlunto was first proposed as a world heritage site four years ago.
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The Blue Lake in Sawahlunto, West Sumatra. (Shutterstock/whywijayanto47)
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awahlunto in West Sumatra is among the 44 destinations around the globe that have been nominated for inclusion on UNESCO's World Heritage List this year.
Described by UNESCO on its tentative list as "the oldest coal mining town in Southeast Asia", Sawahlunto was first proposed as a world heritage site four years ago, according to West Sumatra Tourism, Youth and Sports Agency head Efriyanto.
Read also: Sawahlunto to hold third Sawahlunto International Songket Carnival 2017
"The process started a long time ago, but it's still considered quite fast since it's for UNESCO. We started [the process] around three to four years ago," Efriyanto told KompasTravel on Wednesday, adding that it was the provincial administration's first attempt at proposing a world heritage site.
Sawahlunto's highlights include the preserved cultural heritage items, said Efriyanto, although the agency has also prepared other attractions to further boost the city's tourism potential.
"As a tourism city, of course [we need to pay attention to] the 3As, namely accessibility, amenities and attractions. In terms of access, we cooperate with the provincial administration to improve access to Sawahlunto and its tourism sites. We will also repair various public facilities to support tourism amenities and increase the number of tourist attractions." (nic/kes)
