Kubu Raya Government Partners with Companies to Develop Batu Ampar Tourism

The Kubu Raya Regency Government is partnering with several companies operating in the Batu Ampar area to accelerate the development of a mangrove conservation-based tourism zone as a new premier destination in West Kalimantan. “We are involving the companies in Batu Ampar so that we can build this area together. This collaboration is important so that tourism development proceeds more quickly and provides benefits to the community,” said Kubu Raya Regent Sujiwo during a site inspection of the Batu Ampar tourism development with officials from the Kubu Raya Regency and the West Kalimantan Provincial Government on Sunday. The Regent stated that the involvement of the business sector is a crucial part of accelerating the arrangement of the tourism area through support for the construction of various public facilities and environmental management. According to him, the development of the Batu Ampar tourism area has now entered the implementation phase. The government is targeting the completion of several main facilities within the next three months so that the area can soon be promoted as a new tourist destination. Various infrastructure projects to be built include improving road access to the tourism area, sanitation facilities, street lighting, and area landscaping to make it more attractive to visitors. Sujiwo emphasised that the development of Batu Ampar tourism is not solely oriented towards physical construction but also prioritises the concept of a well-organised, clean, and comfortable area capable of providing a memorable tourist experience. In addition to the Bukit Talang area, the government is also developing several supporting destinations such as mangrove educational tourism, cycling paths, hiking trails, camping grounds, a crab fattening site, and a tourist trail approximately 500 metres long that cuts through the mangrove area. According to Sujiwo, Batu Ampar has significant natural tourism potential, including Gelanggang Island, which offers a sunset panorama and has the opportunity to become one of the tourist attractions in West Kalimantan. “To strengthen accessibility, the Kubu Raya Regency Government has allocated a budget of approximately Rp5 billion to improve road infrastructure towards Batu Ampar and Teluk Nibung. This connectivity improvement will be continued in stages in the following year,” he said. He stated that the tourism area development is expected to create a multiplier effect for the community’s economy through increased demand for homestays, the growth of culinary businesses and MSMEs, and the creation of new jobs for local residents. Furthermore, Sujiwo affirmed that the construction of the tourism area continues to uphold the principle of sustainability by preserving the mangrove forest as the main coastal ecosystem of Batu Ampar. The development of the tourism sector is expected to become an instrument to strengthen conservation while improving community welfare. “The Kubu Raya Regency Government is optimistic that the synergy between the government, companies, and the community will accelerate the realisation of Batu Ampar as a mangrove-based tourism area capable of becoming a new engine of economic growth in the coastal region,” he said. The mangrove forest area in Batu Ampar District spans more than 60,000 hectares, including a 25,000-hectare protected forest area. The mangrove forest’s distinction is that it has been recognised as one of the most complete and largest mangrove habitats in the world.