From prison to tourist attraction

From prison to tourist attraction

By Wahyu Mandoko

NUSAKAMBANGAN, Central Java (JP): A prison island is hardly a
likely vacation spot, but the mysterious allure of Nusakambangan
Island has induced the Central Java provincial administration to
open it up to holidayers.

In an effort to boost tourism, the provincial administration
started allowing people to visit the former site of Indonesia's
number one maximum security prison this month.

Opening up Nusakambangan to tourists is reminiscent of the
conversion of Alcatraz prison just off San Francisco in the
United States into a favorite Bay area tourist attraction.

Officials here seem confident that Nusakambangan will reach
the same level of success.

"Christmas and New Year's are expected to begin the trial
period. Many holidayers are interested in going and have
registered with the Cilacap municipal authority," said Budiharto,
head of the regional office of the Ministry of Tourism, Post and
Telecommunications.

What probably makes Nusakambangan most attractive is the fact
that to this day prisoners are still housed in some of its
correctional facilities.

Presently four of the original nine prisons on the island are
still in operation, with a total of 280 prisoners. Tourists will
be barred from entering the prisons which are still in operation.

Also, tourists will only be allowed onto the island in groups
led by special guides. Individual tourists will not be welcome on
the 270-square-kilometer island located just south of Cilacap,
Central Java.

Apart from hardcore criminals the island has been home to
several political prisoners who were incarcerated due to their
involvement in the abortive 1965 coup by the Indonesian Communist
Party.

Among the most famous people to have been imprisoned on the
island is Pramoedya Ananta Toer, whose books continue to be
banned due to what is perceived as communist content.

The government's decision to open up the island to the public
ends over a half century of closure which began in 1930 during
Dutch colonial rule. The Dutch used the island to exile
nationalists and political prisoners who opposed the colonial
rule.

Attractions

Several of the prison facilities, including those used to
incarcerate Indonesia's independence period leaders, have been
restored and are expected to attract a large number of visitors.

The idea of turning the island into a tourist resort is
actually not a new idea.

The government has been toying with the idea of developing
Nusakambangan for several years.

According to Budiharto, the idea has been in the works for
many years but several factors have hindered its fruition until
now.

He further revealed that during the 1950's and 1960's there
were even plans to develop Nusakambangan into a gambling and
entertainment haven like Monaco.

Before finalizing plans to open the island for tourists, the
administration decided that this month's initial group of
visitors would mark the beginning of a three-year trial period.

After three years, the authorities will assess the success of
the program and decide whether to keep the island open to the
public.

Apart from the obvious allure of the prison, officials claim
that Nusakambangan has a lot more to offer.

The island boosts virgin mangrove forests, the scenic Segara
Anakan valley and the Putri, Lawa, and Masigit Sela caves.

Facilities for water sports are also being prepared for those
who wish to want to enjoy the Indian ocean.

The authorities are preparing the island to attract as many
tourists as possible. Over Rp 1 billion has been spent on
improving roads and other infrastructure, including the Sodong
harbor, which is Nusakambangan's main entry port.

Tourists going there, or people just wishing to cruise around
the northern shore of the island, can find boats for the trip in
Cilacap.

The Ministry of Transportation is now considering additional
air routes from Jakarta, Solo and Yogyakarta to allow visitors to
reach Tunggulwulung airport in Cilacap.

"Many foreign tourists who are interested in visiting
Nusakambangan have already registered to come," Budiharto said.

The Central Java authorities hope that with the addition of
Nusakambangan as a holiday destination, the average length of
stay of tourists in the province will increase from the current
1.6 days.