BMW Festival Included In National Tourism Calendar

JAKARTA, July 5 (Antara) - Featuring various typical cultural attractions of Biak Numfor District, the Biak Munara Wampasi (BMW) Festival which lasted from July 1-4, 2017 in the Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua has been included in the national tourism calendar to continue to be held every year. The Ministry of Tourism this year has programmed that the charm of the BMW cultural festival can be held annually by the government of Biak Numfor District. Attracted by the distinctive cultural attractiveness of the festival, Deputy Minister of Tourism for Marketing and Development Esthy Reko Astuty remarked that to Ministry of Tourism has included the BMW Festival in the national tourism calendar. Various cultural activities being handled by the event organizers to enliven the BMW festival are "snap mor," or fish-catching competitions in the waters during low tide; "apen byaren," or walking on hot rocks; 10-kilometer race; cultural art, entertainment, cultural, and orchid exhibitions; tourist attraction photo contest; and international underwater photo contest. Of the cultural activities, walking on the hot rock (apen byaren) becomes the special icon for the BMW festival, as it is the only cultural attraction in the world. "The uniqueness of apen byaren attraction owned by the Biak indigenous people in the BMW cultural festival must be maintained for its authenticity as a tourist attraction of the world," Astuty remarked. She expressed hope that quality of the BMW festival in Biak Numfor District every year should be professionally managed so as to have a positive impact on the tourist visit to the island of Biak. The BMW festival offers a platform to promote regional tourism and to introduce the diverse cultures and traditional art in Biak to the international community. Biak Tourism Office Chief Turbey Ony Dangeubun remarked that the myriad natural, marine, cultural, and historical attractions for both domestic and foreign tourists in the district will continue to be promoted. Situated at the top of Cendrawasih Bay in the northern part of Papua, the Biak Island has borne witness to the ghastly World War II battles between the Allied forces and the Japanese. During World War II, in April 1942, Biak was invaded by the Japanese but was recaptured by the Allied forces during June and July of 1944. War relics and even human remains may still be found in the forest. Visitors can also explore a small museum that houses Japanese and American relics. Many visitors have attested to the fact that Biak is a wonderful place for wildlife and bird-watching. With intensive promotion, domestic and foreign tourists will be able to witness the world war remains, enjoy spectacular sea gardens, and explore the surrounding small tropical serene islands, which have pristine white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters and beautiful varied fish and corals. Therefore, the local government has collaborated with PT Garuda Indonesia in a bid to promote the wealth of its natural and historical tourism. Biak has many natural and historical attractions, in addition to the waters around some islands which are ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and diving. "The tourists who go diving at these islands will have an unforgettable experience to enjoy the beautiful coral reefs with schools of ornamental fish," Dangeubun remarked. He further added that the Biak district administration will continue to cooperate with all stakeholders, private parties, and travel bureaus, such as Garuda Indonesia to intensively promote its tourist attractions. Intensive promotion of tourist attractions in Biak will draw many domestic and foreign tourists to visit the district. Among the tourists attractions in Biak, the Japanese Binsari cave is also being promoted as a historical tourist attraction in order to increase the number of tourist visitors. Binsari cave is one of the many tourist attractions being promoted by the Biak district administration to attract as many domestic and foreign tourists as possible. During the World War II, the cave was used as a hideout by some five thousand Japanese soldiers. As per historical records, allied forces led by General Douglas MacArthur bombed the cave on June 21, 1944, killing more than three thousand Japanese soldiers and disfiguring all the beauty of the cave. Following an agreement between the governments of Indonesia and Japan in 1989, Binsari cave was excavated and around one thousand skeletal remains of Japanese soldiers were unearthed and cremated. As of 2012, some one thousand skeletons of Japanese soldiers were unearthed, but many more are still buried in the cave. Therefore, Biak Numfor District is being promoted and developed into into a leading international tourist destination in the eastern part of Indonesia. The district is made up of two major islands of Biak and Numfor, and many other small islands with numerous beautiful beaches, famous for their crystal-clear waters in Cenderawasih Bay. Biak is one of the better known areas of West Papua, and it formerly served as a major air-stopover for trans-Pacific flights from Jakarta. During that time, there were clear plans for developing this area for tourism, but it failed to materialize following the halt of trans-Pacific flights. Since then, international tourists virtually stopped visiting Biak, which is blessed with many atolls, reefs, and corals. Currently, Biak offers the most spectacular sea gardens in the world, and the sea around it is dotted with small islands having a plethora of fish and corals.