Molucca Province's Tourism

BACKGROUND

Molucca Province is one of Provinces in Indonesia with total isles more than one thousand islands. Viewed from the size definition, the island that categorized large is only Ceram Island, while Buru still including in the isles. Viewed from the total populations, then all islands in the Molucca Province including in the small category. Most central Moluccas consider Ceram to be their original ancestral home and it is still known colloquially as Nusa Ina (Mother Island). In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, Ceram was generally within the sphere of influence of Ternate, although it was often ruled more directly by the Ternaten vassal state of Buru. Portuguese missionaries were active there in the 16th century. Dutch trading posts were opened in the early 17th century, and the island came under nominal Dutch control c. 1650. In the 1780s, Ceram provided a key base of support for Prince Nuku of Tidore's long-running rebellion against Dutch rule.

Ceram is traversed by a central mountain range, the highest point of which, Mount Binaiya, is covered with dense rain forests. Its remarkably complex geology is due to its location at the meeting of several tectonic microplates, that has been described as “one of the most tectonically complex areas on Earth”. Ceram actually falls on its own microplate. that has been twisted around by 80° in the last 8 million years by the relatively faster movement of the Papua microplate. Meanwhile, along with the northward push of the Australian Plate, this has resulted in the uplift that gives north-central Ceram peaks of over 3000m.

TOURISM POTENTIALS

Tourism potential in Ceram Molucca is huge, but until now the tourism sector has not developed and utilized optimally. Each district in Ceram has potential Objects and Tourist Attractions (ODTW) and diverse. Some areas have even been known to tourists, both domestic and foreign tourists. As a region that an archipelago area of small and large islands as well as marine areas, the development of tourism in Ceram is more focused on nature tourism, especially nautical tourism and culture. Nature tourism activities consist of Marine tours, beach tours, cave tours, attractions Tirta; waterfalls, hot springs, lakes, adventure tours (adventure) exploration of the flora and fauna that is Manusela Park located on the Ceram Island. Cultural tourism activities consist of: Travel archaeological / cultural herittage and cultural tourism (living culture), also includes a variety of activities events (special of the event). Tourism potential that spread in three districts in Ceram Island is mostly a Maritime tour. From the data, the number of attractions in the District of West Ceram is 29 scattered locations in 4 districts, which consists of nine coastal tourist locations, six maritime tourism sites, 9 sites of natural attractions and 5 historical tourist sites. While the number of attractions in the District of East Ceram is 23 locations across four districts, from the existing number of sub Gorom islands, East Ceram and Werinama has the highest attraction that is 6 locations, then Bula sub-district has 5 locations. Of the 23 tour sites, there were 13 sites of natural attractions, a historical tourist sites and 9 nautical tourist sites. In Central Molucca District (especially Ceram Island) overall there are 42 tourist attraction consisting of 19 natural attractions, 4 historical tours , 14 marine tourism and 5 cultural tourism. Marine tourism activities (marine tourism) that have the potential to be developed, including sailing, fishing, diving (scuba diving), snorkeling, and various other water sports activities. Nautical Tourism Development are directed at the West Ceram Regency, that is in Kasa Island and Marsegu island. Also in East Ceram Regency which has many groups of small islands. Cultural and heritage tourism activities also present in some areas of Ceram. Some of  them are already quite well known such as the culture and customs of the Naulu tribe in Sepa, Central Molucca Regency, or Sasi culture spread throughout much of the Ceram Island and the local cultural of Moluccas which aims to keep the Moluccas and conserve natural resources around them.