From prison to tourist attraction<\/p>\n
By Wahyu Mandoko<\/p>\n
NUSAKAMBANGAN, Central Java (JP): A prison island is hardly a
\nlikely vacation spot, but the mysterious allure of Nusakambangan
\nIsland has induced the Central Java provincial administration to
\nopen it up to holidayers.<\/p>\n
In an effort to boost tourism, the provincial administration
\nstarted allowing people to visit the former site of Indonesia's
\nnumber one maximum security prison this month.<\/p>\n
Opening up Nusakambangan to tourists is reminiscent of the
\nconversion of Alcatraz prison just off San Francisco in the
\nUnited States into a favorite Bay area tourist attraction.<\/p>\n
Officials here seem confident that Nusakambangan will reach
\nthe same level of success.<\/p>\n
"Christmas and New Year's are expected to begin the trial
\nperiod. Many holidayers are interested in going and have
\nregistered with the Cilacap municipal authority," said Budiharto,
\nhead of the regional office of the Ministry of Tourism, Post and
\nTelecommunications.<\/p>\n
What probably makes Nusakambangan most attractive is the fact
\nthat to this day prisoners are still housed in some of its
\ncorrectional facilities.<\/p>\n
Presently four of the original nine prisons on the island are
\nstill in operation, with a total of 280 prisoners. Tourists will
\nbe barred from entering the prisons which are still in operation.<\/p>\n
Also, tourists will only be allowed onto the island in groups
\nled by special guides. Individual tourists will not be welcome on
\nthe 270-square-kilometer island located just south of Cilacap,
\nCentral Java.<\/p>\n
Apart from hardcore criminals the island has been home to
\nseveral political prisoners who were incarcerated due to their
\ninvolvement in the abortive 1965 coup by the Indonesian Communist
\nParty.<\/p>\n
Among the most famous people to have been imprisoned on the
\nisland is Pramoedya Ananta Toer, whose books continue to be
\nbanned due to what is perceived as communist content.<\/p>\n
The government's decision to open up the island to the public
\nends over a half century of closure which began in 1930 during
\nDutch colonial rule. The Dutch used the island to exile
\nnationalists and political prisoners who opposed the colonial
\nrule.<\/p>\n
Attractions<\/p>\n
Several of the prison facilities, including those used to
\nincarcerate Indonesia's independence period leaders, have been
\nrestored and are expected to attract a large number of visitors.<\/p>\n
The idea of turning the island into a tourist resort is
\nactually not a new idea.<\/p>\n
The government has been toying with the idea of developing
\nNusakambangan for several years.<\/p>\n
According to Budiharto, the idea has been in the works for
\nmany years but several factors have hindered its fruition until
\nnow.<\/p>\n
He further revealed that during the 1950's and 1960's there
\nwere even plans to develop Nusakambangan into a gambling and
\nentertainment haven like Monaco.<\/p>\n
Before finalizing plans to open the island for tourists, the
\nadministration decided that this month's initial group of
\nvisitors would mark the beginning of a three-year trial period.<\/p>\n
After three years, the authorities will assess the success of
\nthe program and decide whether to keep the island open to the
\npublic.<\/p>\n
Apart from the obvious allure of the prison, officials claim
\nthat Nusakambangan has a lot more to offer.<\/p>\n
The island boosts virgin mangrove forests, the scenic Segara
\nAnakan valley and the Putri, Lawa, and Masigit Sela caves.<\/p>\n
Facilities for water sports are also being prepared for those
\nwho wish to want to enjoy the Indian ocean.<\/p>\n
The authorities are preparing the island to attract as many
\ntourists as possible. Over Rp 1 billion has been spent on
\nimproving roads and other infrastructure, including the Sodong
\nharbor, which is Nusakambangan's main entry port.<\/p>\n
Tourists going there, or people just wishing to cruise around
\nthe northern shore of the island, can find boats for the trip in
\nCilacap.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Transportation is now considering additional
\nair routes from Jakarta, Solo and Yogyakarta to allow visitors to
\nreach Tunggulwulung airport in Cilacap.<\/p>\n
"Many foreign tourists who are interested in visiting
\nNusakambangan have already registered to come," Budiharto said.<\/p>\n
The Central Java authorities hope that with the addition of
\nNusakambangan as a holiday destination, the average length of
\nstay of tourists in the province will increase from the current
\n1.6 days.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/from-prison-to-tourist-attraction-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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