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Potential of Marine Tourism in Indonesia


Marine tourism is one of Indonesia's leading tourism destinations. According to data from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Indonesia has 20.87 million hectares of marine, coastal and small island conservation areas. Indonesia's coastline stretches 99,093 km with a sea area of 3.257 million km².

 

This maritime wealth makes marine tourism in Indonesia beyond doubt about its beauty and uniqueness. Indonesian maritime tourism spreads from Sabang to Merauke. There is a lot that can be explored in Indonesian marine tourism.

 

What is marine tourism?

 

Before knowing marine tourism destinations, it is important to understand what marine tourism is. Bahari, etymologically means sea. Marine tourism means all types of tourism or recreational activities which are carried out in sea areas, be it on beaches, islands or under the sea.

 

Marine tourism activities can be carried out in seascapes that are dominated by waters both on the surface of the water and in the water. These activities include diving, surfing, fishing and many more.

 

Indonesia's marine tourism potential

 

Indonesia is an archipelagic country with a total of 16,056 islands. Indonesia's geographical location is also very strategic, being in a tropical area flanked by two continents and two oceans. Indonesia is also the meeting place of three continental plates.

 

The potential of Indonesia's marine natural resources can be seen from the diversity of coral reef, seagrass and mangrove ecosystems. According to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, in Indonesian seas there are 590 types of coral, 2,057 coral fish, 12 types of seagrass, 34 types of mangroves, 1,512 types of crustaceans, 6 types of turtles, 850 types of sponges, 24 types of marine mammals, and 463 sunken ship sites.

 

Marine tourism destinations in Indonesia

 

Labuan Bajo



Labuan Bajo has a perfect underwater landscape. This marine tourism area is located at the western tip of Flores Island, West Manggarai Regency. In the Bajo Sea, thousands or even millions of species of fish and coral reefs live. Manta, the largest species of ray in the world, is also often found in the middle of the sea in Labuan Bajo. Because of its great potential, the government has designated Labuan Bajo as a super priority destination in 2018.

 

Bunaken


Bunaken National Park has an area of 890.65 square kilometers and consists of mangrove forest ecosystems, sea fields, coral reefs and land/coastal ecosystems. Almost 97 percent is marine habitat which lives at a depth of 1,566 meters in Manado Bay, while the remaining three percent covers a land area of 75,265 hectares.

 

Among the coral ecosystem, there are around 3,000 types of fish, such as yellowtail fish, gusumi horsefish, and gorapa. There are also rare species such as dolphins, sea cows and dugongs. Apart from that, various types of ornamental fish, such as Emperor angelfish, Almaco jack, Spotted seahorse, Blue strie snaper, Pinkish basslet and two-lined monocle bream, will be even more pleasing to the eye.

 

Raja Ampat


Raja Ampat has recently become the center of attention for marine tourism. Raja Ampat is a district part of West Papua. Raja Ampat waters have 75% of the world's marine species, in the form of 540 types of coral, 1,511 species of fish and thousands of other marine biota. This is what makes Raja Ampat a marine tourism destination for tourists all over the world.

 

Wakatobi


Wakatobi is in Southeast Sulawesi and is a leading destination for Indonesian marine tourism. Wakatobi is recorded as having a coral reef area of 118 thousand hectares and Kaledupa Atoll is 48 kilometers (km) long, which makes it the longest atoll in the world. Wakatobi National Park has been designated by UNESCO as one of the world's biosphere reserves in Indonesia.

 

Mandeh Islands


The Mandeh Islands are located on the southern coast, or about 65 km from the city of Padang, West Sumatra. There are at least eight diving spots around marine tourism in Indonesia, which are located in the north of the islands of Cubadak, Pagang, Seronjok, and others. Apart from the pristine coral reefs, the diving spot also has the wreck of a sunken Dutch ship. This spot with a depth of up to 27 meters is an ideal place for professional divers.

 

Karimunjawa


Karimunjawa is an archipelago in the Java Sea which is included in Jepara Regency, Central Java. Karimunjawa tourism offers the charm of very beautiful marine tourism. Karimunjawa is home to coral reefs, mangrove forests, coastal forests, and nearly 400 species of marine fauna, including 242 types of ornamental fish. Some of the rare fauna that live here are the White-breasted Sea Eagle, hawksbill turtle and green turtle.

 

Taka Bonerate Marine Park


Taka Bonerate Marine Park has the third largest atoll in the world after the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Maldives. Atolls are coral islands that partially or completely surround a lagoon. The total area of the Takabonerate Atoll reaches 220 thousand hectares. The Taka Bonerate National Park area includes 17 islands. Taka Bonerate National Park is located in Selayar, South Sulawesi.


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