The Indonesian province of North Maluku comprises several islands with different types of unique foods that leave every visitor spoilt for choice as they can sample various dishes such as fish gohu, gatang kenari, grilled fish, and papeda.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Tidore city administration in the Indonesian province of North Maluku is making every effort to develop several tourism facilities and infrastructure in the island of Tidore to provide comfort to the tourists.

As a historical island with a backdrop of Tidore Mountain and Maitara Island, Tidore has various interesting spots and scenic panorama to serve as tourist destinations.

As Tidore is a natural and historical tourism destination, the local government has been endeavoring to develop the infrastructure and facilities on the island in Eastern Indonesia, which has huge tourism potential.

With its natural scenery, beaches, as well as unique tradition and culture, Tidore has become one of the tourist destinations in Eastern Indonesia.

Tidore Culture and Tourism Office Chief Asrul Sani Soleman remarked in Ternate on Monday that tourists arriving in Tidore island will have the opportunity to visit various tourist destinations such as the Tidore Palace and the Gura Bunga village located on the slopes of the Kie Matubu Mountain.

"In addition, the tourists can also visit the Tahula Fort, built by Spanish sailors, and the Tore Fort, built by the Portuguese in Soasio city," Soleman remarked.

He noted that the Tidore city administration will also develop a ring road, clean water facility, and tourism supporting facility on Maitara island.

Soleman said Maitara is a small island between Tidore and Ternate, which can be reached in 30 minutes by a speed boat from Ternate island.

He pointed out that Maitara island was dominated by white sandy beaches and diverse varieties of fish and corals, which are well preserved.

In April, the Tidore city administration will also hold the Maitara island festival, which will be included in the national tourism calendar.

"During the Maitara island festival, we will promote the various tourism potentials in Tidore in our efforts to attract as many foreign tourists as possible," he emphasized.

Further, he added that the Tidore city administration will also develop Tugurufa beach into a culinary tourism site, considered a vital component of the tourism experience.

The efforts to transform Tugurufa beach into a culinary tourism site is important as every tourist consumes at least three meals a day, making food one of the fundamental economic drivers of tourism.

Soleman remarked that the culinary tourism site along the Tugurufa beach will increase the diversity of tourist attractions in Tidore islands.

"The development of Tugurufa beach into a culinary tourism site is part of the efforts to provide the local community with business opportunities in the creative economy sector," Soleman affirmed.

According to Soleman, tourists visiting the culinary tourism site along the beach will be able to enjoy an array of unique culinary delicacies from Tidore, in particular, and North Maluku, in general.

The Indonesian province of North Maluku comprises several islands with different types of unique foods that leave every visitor spoilt for choice as they can sample various dishes such as fish gohu, gatang kenari, grilled fish, and papeda.

Fish gohu is made from yellow tuna fish, cut in small sizes, washed, and coated with salt and lemon juice, and is then mixed with coarsely sliced basil leaves.

While talking about the culinary specialities of Ternate and North Maluku, most people will immediately think of gatang kenari, with the main ingredient being crab that comes from the sea.

Although crabs are listed as protected wildlife, some restaurants in Ternate have received special permission to serve crab-based dishes to cater to the tourist demand.

Papeda is a type of food made from sago flour and is served with a special sauce such as a yellow fish gravy and baked or fried fish.

Although it can be mixed with other menu items, papeda more often comes with yellow fish soup. This mixture is considered to be the right combination and has become a penchant for many people.

Further, Soleman added that in addition to enjoying the culinary flavors typical of Tidore islands, the tourists visiting the Tugurufa beach will also be able to enjoy the beauty of the beach and the expanses of the ocean.

Situated at the outskirts of Tidore city center, Tugurufa beach, on March 9, 2016, became the venue for holding a cultural festival to entertain more than 500 foreign tourists, including scientists, who came to witness the natural phenomenon of total solar eclipse.

Head of the North Maluku Culture and Tourism Office Samin Marsaoly remarked in Ternate that dozens of scientists and tourists from foreign countries came to observe the total solar eclipse and simultaneously conducted research on the rare natural event.

Marsaoly noted that other areas, such as Ternate and Tidore Islands in North Maluku, have also attracted several scientists and tourists from various countries to watch the total solar eclipse.

According to Marsaoly, the scientists and tourists have chosen Tidore Islands as the location to observe the total solar eclipse as they believe it is the ideal choice.(*)

Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016