Semau, LekoNTT.com – Uiasa Village, Semau, Kupang Regency, one of the tourist attractions in NTT which became a favorite in the 1990s. Lodgings and bars are lined up along the coastline, making foreign tourists make it a choice location, especially underwater tourism such as diving and snorkeling. The situation then changed when Indonesia was hit by a monetary crisis and the direct Kupang-Darwin (Australia) flight stopped. Abandoned buildings, all just memories for the people of Uiasa Village.

On October 23 2020, the momentum for the return of Uiasa Village tourism. OCD Beach and Cafe together with the Uiasa Village community launched (Soft Launch) Uiasa Camp which is a momentum for the return of tourism with a coastline that has a coral reef ecosystem, worth exploring.

Several parts of the coral reef in Uiasa have been damaged due to fishing using bombs and poison. To restore the integrity of the Uiasa coral reef, OCD Beach and Cafe is collaborating with the Global Environmental Facilities-Small Grant Program (GEF SGP) Phase VI for the Semau Island area, carrying out the Uiasa Ecotourism Development project. The aim is to revive tourism in Uiasa Village, which once flourished three decades ago.

“For approximately 10 months, together with the OCD Beach and Cafe community, we have collaborated to improve the nature of the Uiasa coast and develop a network of tourism service providers in Uiasa Village so that the nature of the Uiasa coast is maintained and the village community gets direct benefits from tourism,” said Ody Messakh, Coordinator of OCD Beach and Cafe. Cafe through a written statement on Friday (23/10).

Ody emphasized that during this period, OCD Beach and Cafe together with the Uiasa community carried out coral reef conservation efforts using bioreeftek (artificial coral reefs) which had been deployed in 60 units of Uiasa waters. This activity was carried out by involving the Uiasa youth group from the manufacture to the immersion of the bioreeftek in the sea.

Apart from that, OCD together with volunteers also accompany groups of school children in learning English and introducing themselves to the environment to prepare local tour guides. The mothers were also trained in simple English so they could communicate with foreign tourists. There is a cooking practice for groups of mothers using local ingredients.

Tourist Camping Ground Managed by the Community in Uiasa with MCK Facilities and Attraction Facilities Such as Snorkeling, Diving and Cannoe.

“In the long term, it is hoped that the community will gain economic benefits through tourist visits and the village government will continue to assist and develop this ecotourism through village funds. “The Village Government is also expected to be able to develop regulations to protect the coastal environment through Village Regulations and build joint agreements between villages around the coast of Semau Island for environmental protection.”

The coastal tourist attractions that tourists can enjoy when visiting Uiasa Ecotourism Village are quite diverse. Uiasa Beach has a wide stretch of white sand that stretches for about one kilometer, making it the only beach on the coast of Semau Island that offers swimming, snorkeling and diving activities.

There are several snorkeling points and diving around the coast which is easy to reach and has a variety of corals and fish. Not only that, Uiasa Village also has the Uiasa Fresh Water Pool. The bathing pool comes from a natural flowing water source.

“This pool was built a long time ago and is a source of water for Uiasa Village. “If you are interested in visiting historical buildings, visitors can visit the Uiasa lighthouse, which is a colonial era construction lighthouse and the only lighthouse on Semau Island that is still in use today.”

This lighthouse is located on a hill so that the beautiful views of the north coast of Semau Island can be reached and enjoyed. Sunrise is also a moment that cannot be missed if you visit this village. Uiasa Beach opens to the east so the view of Kupang City at night is also a very open and beautiful view of the sunrise.

“It is the community and youth in Uiasa Village who will manage tourist visits in the village. This community effort is called Camp Uiasa. “The facilities provided at Camp Uiasa for visitors include camping tents for overnight stays, rental of snorkeling equipment, cannoes and toilet facilities.”

In relation to this program, since September 2018 there have been 10 civil society organizations and medium business entities, namely: Pikul Association, Imut Motorbike Gang, CIS Timor, Kupang Batanam Community, Dalen Mesa Organic Farming Community, Tafena Tabua Association, OCD Beach and Cafe, The Alfa Omega Foundation and the Cemara Foundation are jointly organizing a Social Ecological Resilience program on the small island of Semau Island. This program is a program supported by the GEF-SGP Indonesia Phase VI Program.

The main objective of the Social Ecological Resilience program on Semau Island is to build community and nature resilience through sustainable livelihood and conservation practices that are resilient to the impacts of climate change. The forms of activities carried out by these 10 organizations are: development of organic agriculture, development of agrosilvo-pastoral and agroforestry, land and coastal conservation for water and food security, development of local food sources and products, as well as community-based ecotourism, pilot use of renewable energy.

This program is implemented in six villages in Semau District, namely Uiasa Village, Hansisi Village, Huilelot Village, Batuinan Village, and Bokonusan Village. Meanwhile, in South Semau District there are four villages, namely Uiboa Village, Uitiuh Ana Village, Uitiuhtuan Village, and Onansila Village. (ed)

To be able to enjoy the nature of Uiasa, visitors can contact the Uiasa Camp manager directly on Instagram: @camp_uiasa.

https://www.lekontt.com/2020/10/uiasa-camp-wujud-ekowisata-berbasis.html