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.