Lebaran Holiday Boosts Interest in Agro-Tourism Among Residents

Not only mountain and beach nature tourism, but agro-tourism is increasingly popular among residents in South Kalimantan province during the Lebaran holiday. One such agro-tourism spot is the hydroponic melon farm named Delica Fresh, located on Jalan Karang Anyar 2 in Banjarbaru City. During the Idul Fitri 1447 Hijriah Lebaran holiday period, hundreds of visitors from various regions flock to this seasonal tourism site every day. “This has become an alternative tourism option and is quite popular among residents, besides mountain and beach natural attractions,” said Hanna, 35, the manager of the Delica Fresh melon farm. This agro-tourism offers visitors the sensation of picking or harvesting melons themselves. The farm’s location is designed with various facilities to ensure visitors can enjoy the tourism atmosphere comfortably. Visitors can enjoy the harvested melons on-site or take them home. The Delica Fresh agro-tourism site, located not far from the city centre, consists of a greenhouse where a large quantity of melons is currently cultivated. “Visitors can choose their own melons to buy. We provide baskets and scissors to make picking easier. The prices we offer are also much cheaper than market prices,” Hanna explained. This agro-tourism is open during harvest time. Melon plants require about 90 days, or around three months, from planting to harvest readiness. With an open planting system and hydroponic techniques, people can obtain premium melons. Several types of melons are developed at Delica Fresh, namely Kirin, Dalmatian, and Inthanon. Each type of melon planted has different characteristics, including motifs, patterns, and flavours. The Dalmatian melon is the best-seller, with a white exterior dotted in green, a juicier and sweeter character. Then there is the Kirin melon, which has a golden yellow skin on the outside and orange-coloured flesh. This melon is also popular for its crisp texture and sweet taste. Meanwhile, the Inthanon melon also has a golden yellow skin with light green flesh that is very sweet. Besides Delica Fresh, there are several agro-tourism locations in Banjarbaru City with various types of flagship fruit commodities such as durian, rambutan, longan, oranges, and others.