Known as Health Tourism Destination, East Java's Giliyang Island Has High Oxygen Level

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Giliyang Island is known as a destination for health tourism and is a mainstay destination for Sumenep and East Java, East Java. Thousands of tourists recorded to have visited the island located in Sumenep Regency which is known for having oxygen levels above the average of other regions, which is 20.9 percent higher. In fact, the oxygen level on Giliyang Island is the second best in the world after Jordan.

"Alhamdulillah, after the COVID-19 pandemic, tourist visits to Giliyang Island have returned to normal. Since 2021, thousands of domestic tourists have re-visited Giliyang Island," said the head of Sumenep's Culture, Youth, Sports, and Tourism Office, Moh. Iksan.

Based on their data, 1,494 tourists visited the island in 2021 and 2,460 visitors in 2022, all of which was domestic tourists. Meanwhile, until May 2023, it recorded 2,131 visitors and eight of them were foreign tourists. 

"We're optimistic the number of visitors to Giliyang Island in this year will continue to increase and surpass previous years'," said Iksan.

Tourist Attractions

Tourism potentials on the Giliyang Island which has two villages; Bancamara and Banraas villages, are managed by the locals who are aware of tourism potential, dubbed the pokmasdarwis. Besides the high oxygen level, there are also some tourist attractions that support tourism on the island, such as Mahakarya Cave in Banraas Villages and Cangga Stone in Bancamara Village.

"We continue to assist Pokmasdarwis and prepare the necessary infrastructures so that tourists visiting Giliyang Island will feel more safe and comfortable,"  he added.

The newest facility is the revitalization of Giliyang Port to ease boat activities and vessels transporting tourists to the oxygen island.

Antara

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