Miang Island was inaugurated as an archipelago maritime village by Vice President Ma’ruf Amin in May 2023, along with 67 other villages across Indonesia.
Heaptalk, Jakarta — East Kutai Regent Ardiansyah Sulaiman appreciated Miang Island which had just been inaugurated as an archipelago maritime village, known as Kampung Bahari Nusantara (KBN), by Vice President Ma’ruf Amin in May 2023. This designation made Miang Island one of the 68 lists of archipelago maritime villages which were inaugurated simultaneously throughout Indonesia.
He conveyed this while attending the closing ceremony of the Archipelago Maritime Village Festival at the island Pier, Sangkulirang District (06/17). The activity was also to commemorate the 18th anniversary of Miang Island.
“Miang Island as an archipelago maritime village, as well as one of the outstanding tourist destinations in East Kutai should be protected and preserved for its natural beauty. For the people who live here, take care of the surrounding environment, especially the mangrove forest here,” said Ardiansyah.
Archipelago maritime village is a program initiated by the Indonesian Navy which has five clusters of development, namely education, economy, health, tourism, and land. Aiming to eradicate poverty in coastal villages, the government will equip supporting facilities to make the island fit to become a tourist village. In the future, tourism activities are expected to improve the economic level of the existing community, primarily MSME actors.
In October, this place will become the location for an international fishing competition. Adriansyah voiced, “Later, we will build kertak ulin (wooden bridge) for visitors to walk around this exotic and beautiful island.”
Further, Ardiansyah emphasized that his party would strive for the island to become a well-known tourist destination in East Kutai. Therefore, he asked the public to preserve the biodiversity on this island. “Thank you to the people of Miang Island who have united to make Miang Island Village a tourist village,” he added.
Meanwhile, Miang Island Village Head Alimuddin Daud expressed his gratitude to the Regent and his staff who attended the closing ceremony of the Archipelago Maritime Village Festival. Alimuddin also thanked all parties involved, primarily the committee who prepared a series of competitions and performances to enliven the festival and the village’s anniversary.
Multiple competitions were held, namely fishing with 80 participants, jepen dance with 13 participants, ketinting boat racing with 28 participants, tambourine art, culinary, and dompeng engine boat racing with a total prize of each competition ranging from Rp3.3 million to Rp13 million or US$219.9 to US$866.5.