River tourism flows in Kalimantan

River tourism flows in Kalimantan

By Hasan Zainuddin

BANJARMASIN (Antara): The armada of small ferries on the Barito and Martapura rivers and locals bathing and doing their laundry make intriguing sights for people from land-locked areas.

"Banjar people have since time immemorial been close to rivers," said Muhammad Abdullah, a community elder. "It is no wonder their dwellings are connected to the river."

Human populations over time have adapted to the area known as the "land of a thousand rivers". They established the floating market in Kuin village, and the Mantuil village homes and food stalls bobbing on the river.

"These activities are attractive to tourists," head of the provincial tourist office, Millian Jamil, said.

"That is why life on the river, especially the floating market, continues to be promoted as a prime tourist site in South Kalimantan."

The floating market here is different from comparable ones in Bangkok or Venice.

"There is charm in the various aspects of local people's river life. Many tourists are interested in seeing this way of life," said tourist guide Muhamad Arifin.

He said the uniqueness of the local river activities had inspired tour organizers in the area to intensify their campaigns.

A regular promo on private television station RCTI -- which has a woman giving the thumb's up sign in the floating market -- has also spread fame about the area.

"We pride ourselves on the floating market, Kaget Island with its proboscis monkeys, Kembang Island with its tame monkeys and Panggang Lake with its swamp water buffaloes, because they have increased our tourist potential," said Achmad Dimyati, head of the regional office of the Ministry of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications.

He said all the sites had good prospects, but needed upgrading to make them fit for domestic and foreign tourists.

His office is cooperating with the Banjarmasin regional administration on the construction of a pier to be used exclusively for river tourism transportation.

"We have earmarked Rp 200 million for the construction of this pier," he said.

The regional administration has picked a strategic location for the pier in the Martapura river area, he added.

Another prospective tourist site in South Kalimantan, Bakut, an island about 15 km to the west of Banjarmasin, also needs better management.

The Barito River suspension bridge -- at more than a kilometer the longest in Southeast Asia -- passes over the island.

"We have appointed Bangun Benua, a developer owned by the regional administration, to turn this island into a center of water tourism in the province," said Amanul Yakin, spokesman for the provincial administration.

In the works are a small park housing miniature representations of sites of interest in the province, and a wildlife reserve. Five spotted deer from the Bogor's presidential palace are scheduled to arrive soon.

The regional administration is also inviting private businesses to invest in the Bakut's development and tap into the tourism potential.