REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANDA ACEH -- The Aceh administration has stated that Indonesia's western outermost island, designated as a National Tourism Strategic Area, has become the main world cruise tour destination. The city of Sabang and Aceh Province, in general, are among the world's cruise tourist destinations, Head of the Aceh Tourism and Culture Office Amiruddin stated at a Focus Group Discussion on Tourism Promotion Development.

"The presence of cruise ships in Sabang has had positive economic impacts for the locals, especially for tourism industry players in the area," Amiruddin pointed out in Banda Aceh on Thursday.

Tourism business players from Banda Aceh and Sabang took part in a focus group discussion. The Aceh provincial administration expressed hope that all parties would improve the tourism industry's marketing strategy in welcoming cruise ships.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor of Sabang Suradji Junus noted that the administration continued to prepare various tourism supporting infrastructure and facilities to make every visitor traveling to Sabang feel comfortable and safe.

"We are committed to continuing to promote the tourism business in Sabang, so that every tourist can experience comfort and safety while traveling here," Junus remarked.

During the international annual yacht rally that links destinations across Indonesia in 2017, Sail Indonesia had taken routes at several locations in Indonesia and ended in Sabang on December 1, 2017. Sail Indonesia was firstly held in 2000.

Since 2009, the annual event has been named after the area that became the venue of the event's peak: Sail Bunaken held in 2009 in North Sulawesi, Sail Banda in 2010 in Maluku, Sail Wakatobi-Belitong in 2011 in South East Sulawesi-Bangka Belitung, Sail Morotai in 2012 in North Maluku, Sail Komodo in 2013 in East Nusa Tenggara, Sail Rajampat in 2014 in West Papua, Sail Tomini in 2015 in Central Sulawesi, Sail Selat Karimata in 2016, and Sail Sabang in 2017 in Aceh.

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