Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The rare and beautiful phenomenon of the total
solar eclipse, forecast to occur on March 9, 2016, is expected to
attract foreign tourists to Indonesia.
Both domestic and foreign tourists are keen to visit Palembang,
Belitung, Bangka, Balikpapan, Sampit, Palangkaraya, Luwuk, Palu, Poso,
and Halmahera to witness the total solar eclipse.
Head of the North Maluku Culture and Tourism Office Samin Marsaoly
remarked in Ternate on Monday that dozens of scientists and several
tourists from France will visit Halmahera to observe the total solar
eclipse and simultaneously conduct research on the natural event that
will occur in March 2016.
"Boarding a special aircraft, the scientists, with a variety of
advanced equipment, will arrive in Maba in East Halmahera to conduct a
study on the total solar eclipse," Marsaoly stated.
He said hundreds of tourists from several countries had also
informed the local culture and tourism office of their interest to
witness the total solar eclipse in March next year.
He noted that the culture and tourism office in East Halmahera had
made various preparations related to the visit of the scientists and
tourists from several countries, such as accommodation, transportation,
and the location where they will watch the rare phenomenon.
Marsaoly said other areas, such as Ternate and Tidore Islands in
North Maluku have also attracted many scientists and tourists from
various countries to watch the total solar eclipse on March 9, 2016.
He remarked that some two thousand tourists had already booked hotel
rooms in Ternate, and the number is expected to grow to four thousand.
"The number of foreign tourists visiting Halmahera in North Maluku
to watch the total solar eclipse is definitely a blessing for this
region as in addition to increasing the number of foreign tourist
arrivals, it will also offer the necessary momentum to promote the local
tourism potential," he added.
In the meantime, Head of the Culture and Tourism Office in Tidore
Islands Asrul Sani Soleman stated that several scientists from the
United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will
also observe the total solar eclipse from the Tidore Islands, North
Maluku province.
Soleman noted that the scientists will observe the total solar
eclipse from the Sultanate of Tidore Palace through a special binocular
brought from NASA in the United States.
The scientists have chosen Tidore Islands as the place to observe
the total solar eclipse as it will be the ideal location, and they will
be able to see the sun for a longer time period compared to other areas
in North Maluku.
He noted that along with the NASA scientists, hundreds of tourists
from various countries will also arrive to witness the total solar
eclipse at several locations, including Maitara Island, one of the
tourist islands of Tidore.
The tourists, who will come to watch the total eclipse in this area,
are using the services of a travel agent from Bali and Jakarta or will
arrive by yacht.
"So far, there are four cruise ships, including from France, the
United States, and Switzerland that have confirmed to make a stopover in
Tidore," Soleman revealed.
The city administration of Tidore Islands has made preparations to welcome the scientists and tourists.
The administration will also utilize their visit to promote the
tourism potential of the area, including attracting investment.
Siti Norma Mardjanu, the head of the tourism office in Central
Sulawesi province, recently remarked in the provincial city of Palu that
the local administration will conduct promotional activities regarding
the total solar eclipse at numerous international airports in Indonesia.
She remarked that the promotional activities highlighting the total
solar eclipse will be carried out at the international airports in
Medan, Jakarta, Surabaya, and Makassar.
According to Siti, the promotion will not only spread awareness
about the total solar eclipse but will also promote the tourism
potential of Central Sulawesi.
Siti said the activities to promote the total solar eclipse will be
conducted by the Central Sulawesi provincial administration in December
this year.
Currently, approximately three thousand hotel rooms have been booked
by foreign tourists, who want to witness the rare phenomenon in Palu,
Luwuk, Ampana, and Poso.
The total solar eclipse is expected to attract thousands of
tourists, and therefore, it will motivate the local administration to
develop its local tourism potential.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the earth and
Sun. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moons apparent diameter is
larger than the suns, blocking all direct sunlight, turning day into
darkness.
The total eclipse in March 2016 will occur in the narrow path across
the earths surface, with the partial solar eclipse visible over a
surrounding region that is thousands of kilometers wide, beginning in
Indonesia, and ending in the northern Pacific Ocean. (WDY)
March 2016 Solar Eclipse to Attract Tourists to Indonesia
Senin, 14 Desember 2015 21:36 WIB