Maluku Tribal Settlement Potential To Become Tourist Village

Ambon, Maluku, April 14 (Antara) - The settlement areas of Naulu and Huaulu tribal communities in Maluku province have the potential to become tourist villages, according to an archeologist. "In spite of modernization and globalization, much of the inherited social structure, tradition, and settlement areas of Naulu and Huaulu tribal communities remain unchanged, and have very high potential to become tourist villages in the province," Lucas Wattimena, an archeologist at Ambon Archeological Center, stated here on Monday. He pointed out that Naulu tribal villages scattered on the southern coast of Seram island, and Hualu tribal community live along the northern coast of the same island. "Although they have been familiar with rupiah currency, some people of the two tribes are still using the barter system in the process of buying and selling," Watimena explained. The stay in traditional stilt houses with rooms division is based on the gender members of the family. "Based on archeological study, the settlement patterns and the structure of their house building remain unchanged from one generation to the next," he pointed out. Further, he explained that Naulu tribal community continue to maintain their "Bayar Mata Rumah" tradition, namely the first son in the family should later be handed to the care of his mother`s family. "The two tribal communities have very interesting cultures and traditions that can represent overall culture of Maluku in general to attract tourists," Watimena explained. He noted that the local government should be serious in developing the Naulu and Hualu Tribes settlement areas into tourist villages by conducting a research and study the economic, archeological, and sociological side beforehand.