TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Nestled in the slopes of the mountain forest in Tambrauw District, the Meyah waterfall is one of the most scenic locations in the province of West Papua, but many are still unaware of its existence.
The rainbow and mist created by the thundering splashes of water draw numerous visitors, who are often taken aback by the commanding presence of the Meyah waterfall.
The visitors are mesmerized by the natural waterfall that proffers a sense of well-being, as the watercourse can support life around it as nature charts its course.
West Papua Province has several natural landscapes that are well known or still not popular among the public, some of which are the Raja Ampat islands, Arfak mountains, and waterfalls.
The province is also home to the Tagor fall in Mambunibuni Village, Maredred fall in Sakartemin Village in Fakfak, and Meyah fall in Tambrauw.
However, due to the lack of promotion and publicity, many people are unaware of these waterfalls.
Hence, Abner Oni, a nature tour guide in Sorong, believes that the local government should promote and publicize effectively similar to what it has done for other tourist attractions in West Papua.
The local government has yet to organize and construct tourism facilities around the waterfalls, which are one of the sources of local revenue.
According to Oni, the Meyah waterfall has unique natural beauty as it is situated in the heart of the jungle where visitors can enjoy the chirping of the bird of paradise.
Abner said he once drove some Chinese tourists to the Meyah waterfall, and they greatly admired its natural beauty besides that of the popular Raja Ampat and Arfak mountains.
Raja Ampat comprises four large islands and hundreds of dots and specks off the fragmented western corner of the land of Papua, the worlds second-largest island.
The islands are currently a preferred destination for divers interested in exploring the beauty of the underwater scenery.
Known as the most biodiverse marine habitat on earth, Raja Ampat in West Papua is an ideal destination for both local and foreign tourists to relax and unwind.
The visitors to Raja Ampat have the opportunity to witness a multitude of marine habitats and coral reefs in one glance without having to swim a stroke.
Most visitors arrive in Raja Ampat through Sorong, a city on the far west coast of Papua, which has an airport, army barracks, and a karaoke bar called Happy Puppy.
In less than two hours from Sorong, the visitors can reach Raja Ampat, where they can indulge in activities, such as swimming, diving, and snorkeling, or just relax.
Reaching Raja Ampat has now become easier as the Bahari Express fast boat, a public transportation service, is offering rides to foreign tourists from Sorong city to visit the tourist attractions there.
Foreign tourists visiting Raja Ampat are enthralled by its beauty, found nowhere else in the world.
Some of the tourist attractions in Raja Ampat are the Kabui Strait, Arborek Islands, Pasir Timbul, the iconic Wayag Islands, and Arborek Island.
Arborek Island is fast developing as a region for marine conservation. The island, which includes the Arborek Village, has gained popularity for its success in developing it into one of the best marine conservation areas.
The success has been recognized both by the local authority and international community.
The island has succeeded in managing its conservation area since several parties, including the national and local governments, non-government organizations, research centers, and the local people have lent their support.
Arborek Island has been simultaneously managed as a conservation area and marine tourism destination.
Tourists visiting the island can experience the beautiful scenery, both on the surface and underwater. They can explore the scenic village on the island and the ocean life.
Besides Raja Ampat, the Arfak mountains in Manokwari is also well-known for its tropical rain forests with endemic animals and plants.
In the near future, a group of domestic and foreign tourists will visit the Arfak Mountains District, which gained autonomy from Manokwari District in 2012, to see its numerous tourist attractions.
As has been confirmed in Manokwari by the secretary of West Papuas Association of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants, Julius Lois, the tourists from Jakarta, Surabaya, and from Britain, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands will come to visit the Arfak mountains.
Since several years, the tropical rain forests in the Arfak Mountains have lured tourists from across the world for a close glimpse of the endemic flora and fauna in the region.
Arriving in Arfak mountain areas, the tourists can enjoy ecotourism activities while exploring the forests to observe various species of tropical plants.
In the light of this, West Papua Governor Abraham Atururi has been committed to developing all regions in the province, and construction is underway to improve accessibility to the Arfak Mountains District by improving means of land, sea, or air transportation.
ANTARA
