Nowadays, people prefer to "hang out" with their gadgets almost all the time. Various contents and terms that were once foreign to the ear have become familiar. The term healing now not only means healing or treatment, but also has various meanings in various contexts. Usually, it is more often used in the context of restoring mental health by visiting tourist destinations. However, are people who travel more often for healing already responsible tourists? What are the programs of the local government and non-governmental organizations to support sustainable tourism in the Derawan Islands Conservation Area?

Blue Signing Program Campaign at Maratua Jazz and Dive Fiesta on Maratua Island

Yayasan Berau Lestari (Bestari) and Wartajazz are collaborating with WWF Indonesia Foundation and the Signing Blue Program in the Maratua Jazz and Dive Fiesta event on Maratua Island on November 4-6, 2022. As one of the islands in East Kalimantan and still in the Derawan Islands group, Maratua Island also has well-known marine tourism potential and is encouraged to implement sustainable tourism.

Various series of activities were held at the event, including musical performances, diving to enjoy the underwater beauty of Maratua Island, exhibitions of Berau Regency MSME products, and talk show sessions. The event was attended by the Regent of Berau Regency, Deputy Regent of Berau Regency, Chairperson of the Maratua Island Acceleration, Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Secretary of the East Kalimantan Provincial Tourism Office, Head of Maratua Island Sub-District and WWF Indonesia Foundation.

WWF Indonesia Foundation, represented by I Gede Dananjaya Bagaskara, delivered a coral reef rehabilitation program using the rock pile method at the talk show session. In addition, it also had the opportunity to convey sustainable marine tourism practices through the Signing Blue program (www.signingblue.com). This program aims to invite the industry sector to actively participate in the development of sustainable tourism, by joining as Blue Allies, Blue Partners or Blue Travelers.

The Regent of Berau, Sri Juniarsih Mas, M. Pd, said that she would support the Maratua Jazz and Dive Fiesta in 2023. She also hopes that the arrival of the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy to visit Maratua Island can provide additional plastic waste shredding and press equipment.

"I hope, with these tools, it will be able to change the behavior of the Maratua community so that they do not litter and can encourage the formation of waste banks as well," he said.
The Vice Regent of Berau, H. Gamalis, also expressed his support for the plastic reduction program. He suggested that everyone visiting Maratua Island should bring their own water bottle.

 "It is also hoped that Maratua MSME players can sell drinking water bottles, besides being able to reduce waste generation, the bottle can also be one of the mementos for tourists visiting Maratua," he added.

In addition to being one of the speakers at the talk show session, WWF Indonesia Foundation also opened a Signing Blue booth that provides various sustainable tourism information through interesting games. This booth seemed to attract visitors who wanted to become sustainable travelers. Because, they feel sad if they see tourists carelessly littering. They also committed to become environmentally friendly travelers by joining as a Blue Traveler.

Digging Deeper into Sustainable Tourism Program in Derawan Islands

Through the Ocean Governance Project supported by the European Union, the WWF Indonesia Foundation collaborated with the Berau Tourism Ambassadors Association to organize the Derawan edition of Disko Asik (Discussion of Nature Conservation Around Us) on November 29, 2022. With the theme "Encouraging Sustainable Tourism in the Derawan Islands Conservation Area", the participants of the talk show are expected to implement responsible tourism activities and invite the entire community, especially in Berau Regency to take part and care about environmentally friendly tourism in Bumi Batiwakkal.

The event was opened by Mohamad Ali Aripe, Head of the Marine Spatial Management Division of the Marine and Fisheries Service of East Kalimantan Province, and attended by various elements of the district and provincial governments, academics, tourism and tourism businesses, community groups, and media crews.

In his speech, Mohamad Ali Aripe expressed his appreciation to Berau Regency for winning the award in tourism. In addition, he also expressed his support to the WWF Indonesia Foundation that has taken the initiative in building discussions to address environmental issues in Berau Regency.

"My hope is for tourism managers, business actors, local governments and other parties, to be able to provide a positive pattern for the management of conservation areas and marine tourism. Keep in mind that the sustainability of a tourist destination is our shared responsibility," he added.

The talk show presented speakers from the Berau Regency Culture and Tourism Office, Maratua Pratasaba Resort, INDECON (Indonesia Ecotourism Network), and WWF Indonesia Foundation. On this occasion, each resource person conveyed the role of each institution in encouraging sustainable tourism in the Derawan Islands Conservation Area.

The Head of Berau Culture and Tourism Office, Ir. H. Illyas Natsir, MM, had the opportunity to explain the sustainable tourism development program in Berau Regency. The strategies currently being realized by the local government include sustainable management through tourism business, long-term sustainable economy, and cultural and environmental sustainability.

Ilyas Natsir said, "Currently, 60% of Berau's regional budget comes from mining. When mining runs out, the tourism sector is expected to be able to support regional income, if the tourist destinations are well-managed and sustainable. Given, Berau Regency is also an area that has many ecotourism destinations".

With so many tourist destinations, it also attracts tourism businesses to build tourism businesses. Of course, the natural resources in these destinations need to be maintained.

Representing marine tourism businesses in Berau Regency, Bernadeta Lita Udawati from Maratua Pratasaba Resort, shared several examples of contributions made by the resort in supporting sustainable tourism in Berau Regency. Currently, Maratua Pratasaba Resort is focusing on environmentally friendly and biota-friendly hospitality activities. In addition, the resort also installs warning signs in places that are prone to vandalism, provides assistance to local communities, and assists in the underwater clean-up program. These programs can also serve as examples of actions that can be taken by other tourism businesses, in order to support the implementation of sustainable tourism in Berau Regency.

In addition to the important role of the government and businesses, the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in realizing sustainable marine tourism in Berau Regency is also important.

"We as stakeholders, supervisors, managers and actors (in tourism) can carry out our functions in the development of sustainable marine tourism destinations with integration. This integration can be implemented if each party has the same vision and mission, by not expecting who has more to gain and who has to lose," said Rifki Sungkar, as INDECON representative.

He also added that the biggest asset, all the keys to management, implementation and utilization in the principle of a tourism business are natural resources. Therefore, the tour packages that are created should be mutually enjoyable and environmentally friendly. Thus, tourist destinations in Berau Regency will not only be in high demand, but can also be preserved and sustainable.

At the end of the event, one of the representatives of Pokdarwis Sumping Nusa and a tour guide on Derawan Island, Kelvin Efendy, also shared his experience with the WWF Indonesia Foundation when monitoring and collecting data on the appearance of whale sharks which became one of the tourist destinations on Derawan Island. The activity made him more sensitive to maintain the natural potential on Derawan Island so that it is maintained and sustainable.

Through efforts to realize sustainable tourism in the Derawan Islands, it is hoped that it can support communities in conservation areas in encouraging the effectiveness of area management. Furthermore, WWF Indonesia Foundation will also conduct socialization to marine tourism industry players and tourists to join the Signing Blue program. In addition, it will also carry out group assessments for group assistance programs (Community Based Tourism) in implementing sustainable marine tourism, as well as carry out waste data collection training through the Plastic Free Ocean (PFON) program by involving role models who have committed to creating responsible and environmentally friendly tourism.