Minister of Tourism Visits Tourism Village and Disaster Education Museum in Aceh

RRI.CO.ID, Banda Aceh — Vice Minister of Tourism, Ni Luh Puspa, visited three tourism destinations in Aceh on Sunday September 13, 2026, to observe firsthand the development of community-based tourism, as well as the potential for historical and disaster-education tourism. The visit included Nusa Tourism Village in Aceh Besar Regency, as well as the Apung Ship Museum and the Aceh Tsunami Museum in Banda Aceh City.

The Vice Minister of Tourism began her agenda in Gampong Nusa, Aceh Besar Regency, a village surrounded by hills and rice fields that was included in the top 50 of the 2021 Indonesian Tourism Village Award (ADWI). There, residents are developing various tourism experiences that directly involve the community, ranging from traditional culinary delights, crafts, arts and culture, to homestays, as an effort to preserve local wisdom while generating economic benefits.

During the visit, she met with the Jelajah Bakti Terpuji (JEBAT) community from Malaysia who were learning about local cultural attractions, including the Ratoh Jaroe dance. She also witnessed firsthand the cooking process of Sie Itek or Acehnese duck curry, which is prepared traditionally using a beulangong or clay pot, before engaging in dialogue with village administrators about efforts to preserve local potential.

The manager of Nusa Tourism Village, Nur, explained that the community continues to harness local potential to create tourism attractions that draw visitors while providing direct economic benefits to the residents. The Deputy Minister noted that the village serves as a prime example of how community involvement can create high-quality destinations without compromising cultural identity; she highlighted resident participation as a crucial foundation ensuring that the benefits of tourism extend beyond visitor numbers to strengthen the local economy and culture.

From Gampong Nusa, the visit continued to the Apung Ship Museum in Banda Aceh. At this site, the Vice Minister of Tourism observed traces of the 2004 tsunami, where waves approximately nine meters high swept a 63-meter-long, 2,600-ton vessel from Ulee Lheue Port five kilometers inland into a residential area. The ship now serves as both a museum and a learning center regarding the tsunami disaster.

The visit continued to the Aceh Tsunami Museum to inspect tourist facilities and its management as a disaster education center. The museum features several reflective spaces, such as the "Tsunami Corridor" that recreates the atmosphere when the disaster struck, the "Well of Prayer" containing the names of approximately 3,600 victims, the "Bridge of Peace" adorned with the flags of nations that provided aid, and a memorial hall featuring photographic documentation and interactive scientific information.

She noted that educational tourism at these two museums is vital, serving as a space for contemplation and for gaining an understanding of disaster mitigation.

The Vice Minister affirmed that the Ministry of Tourism supports the development of tourism in Aceh by strengthening collaboration with local governments, the community, and destination managers. "I see immense potential in Aceh's tourism," she said.