The Indonesian government is ensuring that disaster mitigation will be improved in tourism sites following the disastrous flooding in Sumatra last month.
The floods caused by Cyclone Senyar caused varying degrees of damage to the tourism sites in different provinces of Sumatra.
As a response, the Tourism Ministry has already released a disaster mitigation module that aims to reduce risks and limit the impact of natural disasters on tourism sites.
Disaster Mitigation Module for Tourism Sites in Indonesia
(Photo : Laurentiu Morariu / Unsplash)
According to a report by ANTARA News, the official Risk Management Technical Implementation Guide offers comprehensive measures that local authorities and concerned stakeholders can refer to.
The guide includes guidelines on visitor management, as well as Cleanliness, Health, Safety, and Environmental Sustainability (CHSE).
The government aims to avoid the damage tourism sites in Sumatra experienced from happening again. According to a report, 53 tourism villages and 29 tourism sites were affected by the flooding in North Sumatra.
74 tourism sites and 28 tourism villages in West Sumatra have also been affected.
According to a separate ANTARA News report, tourism sites such as the Tomb of Sultan Ma'ruf Syah, the Toweren traditional house, and the Al-Osmani Mosque have sustained damage due to the flooding.
Sumatra Flooding
Cyclone Senyar caused significant and widespread flooding in different provinces of Sumatra when it hit in November. According to the Jakarta Globe, the cyclone is considered unusual in the Malacca Strait.
The flooding has killed more than 1,000 people and displaced thousands more. The Indonesian government has since mobilized to help victims of the flooding recover, but many continued to grapple with the effects as Christmas was celebrated throughout the country.
Specifically, the government is aiming to begin the construction of housing for victims who have lost their homes or whose houses sustained heavy damage.
