Aceh Tourism Not Affected by Islamic Law, Agency Says
23 October 2014 23:42 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Banda Aceh - Banda Aceh Tourism and Culture Agency head Teuku Samsuar, said on Thursday, October 23, 2014, that the Islamic law that is being applied in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam has not affected the number of tourist visiting the province, particularly in Banda Aceh.
According to Samsuar, the number of domestic and foreign tourist is increasing annually after the Visit Banda Aceh program was initiated in 2011. Data from the agency revealed that the number of tourists visiting Banda Aceh in 2014 has reached 500,000 people, increasing significantly from 188,000 in 2012.
"The data was based on hotel occupancy," Samsuar said.
Samsuar believed that being the host of Tourism Indonesian Mart & Expo (TIME) event, held on October 23 to October 26, 2014, would boost the number of visitors even higher in the future and help to improve the economy in Aceh.
ADI WARSIDI