Papua is famous for its eccentric and unique natural beauty. For this reason, there is a conservation area that is a tourist location. The potential for ecotourism cannot be separated from the natural beauty of West Papua. There are many attractions that you can find when visiting this nature tour. So, what are the highlights of this national park? Find out the answer here.
The History of Teluk Cenderawasih National Park
It is undeniable that Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country in Indonesia. As a result, Indonesia has a lot of marine tourism that you can visit. And one that offers such a captivating natural beauty is Teluk Cenderawasih National Park. The place is located between three districts, namely Teluk Wondama, Nabire, and South Makowari.
Its vast location makes this tour one of the largest national parks in Indonesia. The area of this national park reaches 1.5 million hectares. With this in mind, this national park is home to various kinds of living ecosystems. It also includes the potential for endemic flora and fauna in the overall identification stage.
This national park has existed since August 29, 2002. Since then, Cenderawasih National Park has become an alternative tourist destination for local tourists. Because of its beauty, this national park in West Papua is gaining popularity overseas. As a result, many tourists from various countries deliberately come to Papua’s national park to witness its beauty firsthand.
This national park area has great potential for ecotourism development. So, its development requires the role of various parties – local communities, the private sector, and the government. Collaborative management of nature conservation areas is essential in creating exemplary tourism-based conservation.
Ecotourism Potential
1. Numerous Species of Flora and Fauna
This national park is a prima donna in Papua for tourists who come. In fact, various species of flora and fauna live in this national park area. At least, you will find more than 200 species of fish and 30 birds with conservation awareness. It also includes protected animals such as turtles and birds of paradise.
The survey shows that there are 506 coral animals in this national park. This number indicates that the diversity of Teluk Cendrawasih is vibrant and exciting. Meanwhile, you can also find an assortment of various types of coral, amounting to 178 species. This total is considered far superior to the habitat in Raja Ampat West Papua.
2. Whale Shark
Rhincodon Typus or Whale Shark is the largest species in the world. Amazingly, you can find this type of shark in the Teluk Cenderawasih National Park. Although it only eats small fish and plankton, this shark can grow up to 18 meters. So, this attraction has led this national park area in Papua as ecotourism – a conservation and tourism area.
Teluk Cenderawasih National Park has the honor to be one of Indonesia’s whale shark conservation areas. Various parties preserve this marine fauna – the government, private companies, and local communities. All of these elements participate in keeping sharks and the surrounding ecosystem. As a result, Kwatisore Village has been a research center for whale sharks for a long time.
Besides being the object of research by academics, whale sharks are also friends of fishermen and tourists. Generally, fishers will interact at close range because many small fish will be surrounding them. Likewise, tourists who come to this national park will interact with sharks to experience unforgettable while visiting West Papua.
3. Cultural and Historic Tour
The sea area of Teluk Cenderawasih National Park reaches 90 percent, so it offers an enchanting attraction. In addition to its underwater beauty, there are historical and cultural tours – in the Misowar Island and Roon Island areas. On the island, you can visit sugar that has existed since ancient times. In addition, there are also relics of the colonial era on Roon Island.
Access to Tourist Locations
The tourism potential of this national park cannot be doubted by the local community. Many people come to this tourist location to enjoy the beauty that is in it. However, access to Teluk Cenderawasih National Park has a challenging route. So, you have to have meticulous planning in order to access it.
You have to choose some transportation to come to the tourist area. You were starting from a flight to the nearest airport from the location, taking a land vehicle, then taking a sea vehicle in the form of a speedboat, etc. Although the journey takes a little longer, when you arrive at the location, you will see a natural beauty that is so captivating, such as the sea, fauna, and culture in West Papua.
Overall, Teluk Cenderawasih National Park has a number of tourist attractions that attract tourists. It is because of the local natural beauty, beach tourism, whale watching, historic caves, culture, and rare species in Papua. For this reason, this tour is one of the ecotourism that provides more value for local and regional communities.
