The number of tourists who visit Sabang has increased three times."Sabang (ANTARA News) - Thousands of domestic and foreign tourists have come to Sabang (Weh island) to enjoy its well known undersea park during the May 5-8 long weekend.
The local head of Express MV Bahara 3B and Express MV Cantika 89 (EC) ferry service, Husni, said here on Friday that every time there is a long holiday, the number of visitors to the region spikes drastically, thus leading to a larger number of trips.
"The number of tourists who visit Sabang has increased three times. We usually serve Banda Aceh-Sabang twice a day but as of now, we are making six trips and carrying 1,400 passengers," he said.
He said Express Cantika carried 250 passengers and Express Bahari 240 passengers in each trip from Ulee-Lheue port in Banda Aceh to Sabang.
"From Ulee-Lheue onwards, it was full. All tickets were sold, but from Sabang onwards, there were many empty seats," he said.
A domestic tourist from North Sumatra, Sesi, admitted that the countrys westernmost island of Sabang has been known for its beautiful marine scenery. Thats why we availed of the long holiday to visit the Weh island (Sabang).
"My friend told me that the sea in Sabang is very beautiful. There are a lot of ornamental fish in the waters of Rubiah island and, therefore, I decided to visit Sabang," she said.
She said spending a holiday in the westernmost island refreshed her after working for days at a stretch in the North Sumatra provincial capital of Medan.
"I wanted to do snorkeling and played with fish on the island of Rubiah like my friends who had visited here had told me," she said. She had come as part of a group.
Besides its beautiful marine scenery and undersea nature, including coral reefs, the Weh island also offers historical sites.
"From photographs that I have seen, a lot of fish species and coral reefs could be found in Sabang and these are very beautiful. I also wish to see old structures built during the Dutch and the Japanese occupation before the World War II broke out," she said.
(Reporting by Mukhlis/Uu.H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/B003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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