Page 154 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

8

The Need for a Planning

Framework to Preserve the

Wilderness Values of Sibayak

Volcano, North Sumatra,

Indonesia

David Newsome 1000 visitors a day. Indonesian volcanoes are
Introduction included on global volcano visit agendas and
several are listed in the top ten in the world to visit
Indonesia has more volcanoes than any other (see Travellers Digest, 2009).
country, with 130 active volcanoes and 76 According to Vaisutis et al (2007) the top
significant eruptions recorded during historical volcanoes to visit in Java are Bromo, Merapi (last
times. Marapi volcano in Sumatra is the most eruption in 2007) and Krakatau (last ash eruption
active and has erupted about 50 times since its first in 2009), and in Sumatra Sibayak, Marapi and
recorded eruption in 1770. Merapi volcano, Kerinci. The focus of this chapter is on Sibayak
located in Central Java and which last erupted in (Figure 8.1) because it is a widely promoted site
2007, was active throughout the Holocene. This to visit on the north Sumatra tourism circuit, is
frequent and widespread volcanic activity results one of the most accessible volcanoes in Indonesia
from the subduction of the Indian Ocean crust and is popular with day-trippers from Medan. The
underneath the Asian Tectonic Plate. The resultant issues surrounding visitation to Sibayak are
island arc extends some 3000km from north-west explored from the perspective of site access,
Sumatra eastwards to the Banda Sea. observation of visitor attitudes towards the volcano,
Over time many of these volcanoes have and how the volcano is presented to the visitor as
become a focus of attention for the cultural a geotourism destination. At present there is no
activities of local people, sites of international suitable planning framework in place that is able
tourist visitation and areas where local and domestic to adequately assess, predict and manage
tourists recreate. Many volcanoes in Indonesia uncontrolled recreation and tourism at Sibayak.
have a long history of human interest and visitation, Attention is therefore given as to how sustainable
for example, Bromo, Merapi, Krakatau, Gede and geotourism might be conducted through the
Tangkuban Parahu, with the latter receiving around application of a tourism-planning framework.

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