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Themed virtual tours to celebrate Indonesia’s 75th Independence Day
Trip organizers are getting creative with themes of their virtual tours, especially to commemorate Indonesia's Independence Day on Aug. 17.
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Tugu Proklamasi (Proclamation Monument) in Central Jakarta on March 6, 2017. (Shutterstock.com/ardiwebs/File)
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nlike in previous years, this year’s Independence Day ceremony on Aug. 17 will be held digitally because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the online celebration, people are encouraged to take part in activities to keep their Independence Day-spirit alive, including by participating in themed virtual tours.
Amid the pandemic, virtual tours have become popular as participants can travel from one place to another from the comfort of their homes. Travel organizers have also gotten more creative with the themes of their tours to inspire people’s curiosity.
One-stop tourism service Atourin, for instance, is set to organize Virtual Tour Indonesia Merdeka (Indonesia’s Independence Virtual Tour), which allows people to explore the archipelago from Sabang, Aceh, in the west to Merauke, Papua, in the east. The tours will run on Aug. 17, 19, 21 and 23 via video conference app Zoom for around 90 minutes.
Participants can expect to see numerous attractions, including Weh Island in Aceh, which is known for its breathtaking underwater scenery; Sangihe and Talaud islands in North Sulawesi, which are rich in marine attractions; Rote Island in East Nusa Tenggara, which is famous among surfers for its perfect waves; and Merauke regency in Papua where the Time Capsule Monument is located.
Prices for the virtual tours start from Rp 35,000 (US$2.39) and those who are interested can register online.
“It’s the first series of virtual tours in Indonesia that travels to four of the most distant points in the country,” said CEO of Atourin, Benarivo Triadi Putra, in a statement.
Read also: Themed virtual tours to celebrate Jakarta's anniversary
Tracing the nation’s history is one of the ways to commemorate Independence Day as well.
Trip organizer Jakarta Good Guide has teamed up with trip organizer Bersukaria Tour to hold Indonesia’s Independence Day Virtual Tour. Scheduled to be held on Aug. 17, it will highlight historic sites and events that are related to this historic date.
“We’ll be explaining about what happened at Menteng 31 [building], the Rengasdengklok incident [in West Java], the conception of the proclamation text, the proclamation of independence on Aug. 17 and information about the big meeting at Ikada [now the National Monument Park] around one month after the proclamation,” The Jakarta Good Guide founder Farid Mardhiyanto told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
Both organizers have opened online registration for the tour with prices starting from Rp 49,000.
Tour operator Wisata Kreatif Jakarta will also run several virtual tours to commemorate Independence Day. Prices for the trips start from Rp 25,000 for regular routes and those who are interested can register on its website.
The first tour, themed Napak Tilas Kemerdekaan Indonesia (a look back at Indonesia’s Independence), will be held on Aug. 16. The trip will include several historic destinations in Central Jakarta, namely Sumpah Pemuda (Youth Pledge) Museum), Gedung Pancasila, Museum Perumusan Naskah Proklamasi (Museum of the Drafting of the Proclamation Text), Tugu Proklamasi (Proclamation Monument) and Joang ’45 Museum.
The second tour will be run on Aug. 17 and will take participants to six presidential palaces in Indonesia on Jelajah Istana-istana Presiden (traveling to presidential palaces), such as Istana Merdeka (Merdeka Palace) and Istana Negara (State Palace) in Jakarta, the Bogor and Cipanas presidential palaces in West Java, Gedung Agung in Yogyakarta and Tampaksiring Palace in Bali.
Those who are looking for English-language guided online trips may want to join the Indonesia Independence Virtual Tour by educational travel platform Outing.id.
Held on Aug. 15, the trip will provide information about Independence Day and take participants to the Joang ’45 Museum, Rengasdengklok, Museum Perumusan Naskah Proklamasi and Jl. Pegangsaan Timur No. 56 in Central Jakarta, where Indonesia’s first president Sukarno read the proclamation text.
To join the tour, sign up on its website with prices starting from Rp 30,000. (wng)
