Maluku`s historical sites being restored for Sail Banda 2010

Antara News, by Otniel Tamindael, Friday, November 13, 2009 08:15 WIB

Foreign tourists enjoy sunset at Ambon Bay in Maluku Province..
(ANTARA/ Jimmy Ayal, Jakarta)

(ANTARA News) - The Maluku provincial administration is preparing for Sail Banda 2010 by, among other things, restoring all historical sites in Banda and Ambon.

"We have started restoring all historical sites in Banda and Ambon in our effort to make them more attractive to the participants of Sail Banda 2010," the chief of Maluku`s culture and tourism office, Florence Sahusilawane, said in Ambon recently.

After the success of the Sail Bunaken 2009 in Manado, North Sulawesi, the central government had become keen on organizing a similar international maritime event in Maluku.

The central government`s plan received a positive response from the Maluku provincial administration which immediately held a coordination meeting with the regional culture and tourism, maritime affairs and fisheries, and transportation offices to make the necessary preparations for the event.

Sail Banda 2010 was actually the brainchild of former Maritime and Fisheries Minister Freddy Numberi, according to Alex Retraubun, director general of coastal area and small island affairs at the maritime and fisheries ministry.

Besides the Amsterdam and Victoria forts in Ambon, other historic sites being refurbished and spruced up are Fort Duurstede on Saparua island and Fort Begica on Banda Islands.

Fort Amsterdam was built by the Dutch in the early years of the Spice Trade at the beginning of the 17th century near the Old Hila Church in Ambon.

As the second Dutch fort after Kasteel van Verre on the island of Ambon, Fort Amsterdam was built after the United East Indies Company or VOC was established by the Heeren Zeventien (Council of Seventeen Lords) in Holland.

The wooden Old Hila Church, built in the vicinity of Fort Amsterdam by the Dutch in the 17th century, was renovated during the rule of Bernardus van Pleuren, then Governor of Comptoire Amboina (1775-1785).

But after a powerful earthquake in the late 1880s, the villagers rebuilt the church and renovated its entrance to what it is now . The Old Hila Church is still in use for services at present.

Banda has many historic sites that have made the island known worldwide for its historical significance and undersea natural beauty. It is known as the original and only source of the once precious spices - nutmeg and mace - , commodities that had a significant impact on world developments in the 15th century.

Early European reports described the tropical Banda Islands as a jewel-like cluster of islands surrounded by crystal-clear waters and brilliant coral reefs, and the most beautiful cluster of islands in Maluku.

Banda is made up of eleven small volcanic islands, namely Neira, Gunung Api, Banda Besar, Rhun, Ai, Hatta, Karaka, Manukan, Nailaka, Syahrir and Batu Kapal.

Syahrir island or formerly known as Pisang Island, and Batu Kapal Island which combine well for a morning dive, a picnic on the beach, and an afternoon dive are just 20 minutes by boat from the hotels in the town of Banda Neira.

To make Sail Banda 2010 a success, Sahusilawane said, the effort to restore and reorder the historic sites in Ambon and Banda was still underway.

"Our effort to restore and spruce up the historic sites is still underway and we hope it will be completed early next year because we still have many other things to do," Sahusilawane said.

She said the provincial government estimated that around 5,000 foreign guests would visit Maluku for Sail Banda 2010, and therefore adequate and comfortable accommodations should be prepared beforehand.

"The existing hotels in Maluku will not be able to take all the guests and therefore we will prepare home-stays in Ambon and Banda," Sahusilawane said, adding that besides marine resorts such as Natsepa, Liang, and Namalatu beaches in Ambon, tourist resorts would also be built on Lucipara island in the Banda Sea.

Namalatu beach is located on the south-easternmost part of the Leitimor Peninsula, facing the Banda Sea. The beach has crystal-clear waters and is an ideal spot for bathing, swimming, snorkeling, and diving.

With very beautiful and attractive sceneries, Namalatu is one of Ambon`s diving centers where visitors can rent diving gear.

Referring the provincial authorities` determination to make Sail Banda 2010 a success, Sahusilawane said her office was doing its best to promote the coming event through brochures, leaflets, both print and electronic media, and even its website www.sailbanda.com which can be visited by interested parties anytime.

"And the most important part of it is that the people of Maluku are already becoming more and more aware of the importance of tourism and prepared to welcome foreign guests and treat them in ways that make them feel at home," Sahusilawane said.

According to her, Sail Banda 2010 would have a strategic market value in the tourism sector and be able to attract international sailors and foreign tourists to visit Maluku during the international maritime event.

Sahusilawane said Sail Banda 2010 was expected to reflect an international shipping expedition.

She said the international event was being designed by adopting the past period of "hongitochten", punitive expeditions conducted by the Dutch to suppress uprisings in Seram, particularly in the clove-rich peninsula of Hoamoal and nearby islands with traditional boats.

Therefore, Sahusilawane called on villages across Maluku which have typical traditional boats to take part in and liven up the Sail Banda 2010.

She said the promotion of Sail Banda 2010 would not be very difficult because Banda islands had been known worldwide since the past as spice islands, and even UNESCO has named the islands one of the world heritages.

Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu said recently that some 150 sail boats from various countries had been registered to take part in Sail Banda 2010.

Related Articles:

Sail Banda 2010 (official Website)

Boediono`s Maluku visit Expected to promote Sail Banda 2010