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Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry to limit number of tourists in Baduy village
The number of tourists in the indigenous Baduy tribe’s village in Kanekes, Lebak regency, Banten, should be limited to achieve sustainable tourism, the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry has said.
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Baduy people go about their activities in Kanekes village, which has been declared a cultural conservation area, in Lebak regency, Banten, on Oct. 15, 2017. (Shutterstock/ Learnmoreandmore)
The number of tourists in the indigenous Baduy tribe’s village in Kanekes, Lebak regency, Banten, should be limited to achieve sustainable tourism, the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry has said.
“We have to control the number of tourists so that they will not come to the village in large numbers,” the ministry’s destination and infrastructure development undersecretary, Hari Santosa Sungkari, said as quoted by tempo.co on July 18.
Previously, the Baduy tribe community had asked the government to exclude the village from the list of Indonesia’s tourist destinations through a letter addressed to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo dated July 6.
In the letter, which was signed by several Baduy cultural figures, such as Jaro Saidi, Jaro Aja, and Jaro Madali, the community stated that it felt disturbed by tourists, especially due to environmental pollution caused by tourism.
Hari said that his ministry was accommodating the request and considering a plan to develop an app for tourists who wish to visit the Baduy cultural area. Tourists would then be required to register through the app prior to their visit to Baduy.
“[The apps] will notify the registrants if the number of tourists has exceeded the capacity,” Hari said.
Read also: Baduy tribe remains free of coronavirus
Uday Suhada, a representative from the Baduy community, said that his community deemed the use of the term “Baduy culture tourism” incorrect.
According to Uday, the correct term is saba budaya Baduy (communal cultural bonds), as stipulated in Kanekes Village Law No. 1/2007 on Saba Budaya and Kanekes Cultural Community Protection.
“Saba means silaturahmi [communal bonding], as well as mutual respect between each culture,” Uday said.
The right understanding of the term is believed to be important, so that Baduy people and their guests respect each other while preserving the local value.
Baduy Dalam elder, Ayah Mursid, requested clear guidelines in implementing the saba budaya Baduy, such as which routes were allowed and which were off-limits for tourists. Mursid also suggested that the government build an information center aimed at introducing the tourists to the culture of the Baduy people prior to their visit.
In response, Lebak regent Iti Octavia Jayabaya said that her administration would provide a place near the Baduy tribe’s area for the requested information center. (dpk)
