Papua is increasingly improving in all sectors, including the tourism sector. One is Yokiwa Village with its discourse, namely Yokiwa Village Pilot Project for Ecotourism in East Sentani Papua.
About Yokiwa Village
Yokiwa is a village in East Sentani District, Jayapura Regency, Papua. Yokiwa Village and Arso, Keerom Regency are just 8 kilometers apart by road. Meanwhile, Yoka, Jayapura City, is around 20 kilometers away.
In addition, visitors can travel by motor boat from Yokiwa Pier to Khalkote, Sentani, by exploring Lake Sentani. The tribes in Yokiwa Village include the Awoitauw, Fiobetauw, Mimitauw, Aufey, and Wahey. Customs in Yokiwa village are still well maintained.
Developing the Yokiwa Ecotourism Village for Economic Improvement
The Papua Provincial Forestry Service encourages the development of Yokiwa Village, Jayapura Regency, to become a pilot model for ecotourism development in Cenderawasih land. Ecotourism in Yokiwa Village, according to Jan Jap Ormuseray, head of the Papua Province Forestry Service, will significantly boost the local indigenous people’s economy.
Tourism facilities and infrastructure to support the program’s implementation have also been built, such as:
- a 285-meter jogging track
- a 12-meter-high monitoring tower
- an orchid house, an educational house
- a compost house.
It is hoped that Kampung Yokiwa can be effectively managed. Tourists will be drawn to natural tourist attractions like the Jaifuri river. This river offers beautiful natural scenery, forests, and a variety of fish species only found in Lake Sentani.
This program can be carried out with the support of traditional leaders, religious leaders, the village government, and local youth so that they can jointly develop Yokiwa Village.
In order for the tourism village in Yokiwa to be developed in a way that clearly reflects the vision and goal of the Governor of Papua, Ormuseray further stated that support from other sectors would also be crucial.
The economic benefit to the neighborhood is the major goal of this program. Both from the administration of already-existing infrastructure and the sale of regional goods, including foods, crafts, and cultural attractions.
Tourism Potential in Yokiwa Village
Particularly, the Itafily or Jaifuri River has a remarkable potential for tourism in Kampung Yokiwa. Jaifuri river is approximately 30 kilometers long and finishes at Muara Tami in Jayapura City.
The Regional Government of Jayapura Regency has made Kampung Yokiwa one of the leading tourism destinations in Papua. The Jaifuri River is traditionally managed as a bathing place, as well as the fast currents of the Jaifuri River are currently being developed as a place for rafting which is quite challenging.
The Jaifuri River itself is known as the Golden Triangle area. This name knows the area because it lies on the boundary of three different regions: Jayapura Regency, Keerom Regency, and Jayapura City. The Jaifuri River regulates the balance of Lake Sentani’s water discharge because it is the sole river that flows downstream of the lake.
The Yokiwa people also call this river the Breath of Lake Sentani since it joins the Tami River, Lake Sentani, and the Pacific Ocean. This river exudes a tropical atmosphere with coconut trees all around it. A hut for resting and taking in the Jaifuri river’s flow can be found every 2-3 meters.
Moreover, from the back of Kampung Yokiwa, visitors can see Lake Sentani’s fascinating landscape. Visitors can also enjoy the red twilight as the sun sets into the lake.
With this Yokiwa Village Pilot Project for Ecotourism in East Sentani Papua, of course, we really support and hope that economic progress in Papua will be more significant, especially from the tourism sector. Remember to include Papua attractions in one of your bucket lists and have an experience like no other in this rich province!
