The beach adds up to the lineup of Garut’s tourism attractions. Recently, the West Java Government beautified Sayang Heulang Beach, transforming it into something much more enchanting, with related expenses amounting to Rp14 billion.
The beach is located southwards of Garut, some 80 km from its metropolitan area. It takes about three hours to reach with four-wheeled vehicles.
The road to the beach is decent, and the lane is wide enough for two four-wheeled vehicles to pass through. Along the trip, one would be greeted to scenic views of mountains, hills, gardens, and forests. Traversing the southern Garut lane left a good, lasting impression.
The road would thereafter coalesce with West Java’s west lane. Not far from that area, the Sayang Heulang Beach area could be reached.
In terms of the administrative area, the beach was included in the Mancagahar village area in Pameungpeuk Sub-district, which was designated as a tourist destination by the Garut Tourism and Culture Office.
The area existed since long back. There was a neighborhood along the shores. The residents live as fishermen and vendors, with some even establishing inns to cater to tourists that visited the area.
Sayang Heulang Beach was one of the known beaches in Garut apart from other beaches, such as Santolo, Rancabuaya, and Cijeruk.
The provincial government has paid special attention to the beach and showered it with utmost care by giving it a makeover. It used to have bare minimum facilities, with some of them even damaged.
Now, it has drastically changed. It was more comfortable and impressive, and it was as interesting as any other beach in Indonesia.
Irwan, a local tourist, reiterated this thought. It was believed that the change would promote Sayang Heulang Beach as a top-tier tourism place.
“The Sayang Heulang tourism object, currently, is so much different than its previous conditions. It is arranged in a much neater manner, and there are additional spots,” he stated.
The beach was officiated by West Java Governor, Ridwan Kamil, on Sunday, February 2022. According to the Garut Tourism and Culture Office, the visit rate had increased, and the visitors came from various areas.
Sayang Heulang Beach’s new appearance has piqued the curiosity of many, especially after the governor promoted it on his social media platform. Moreover, mass media advertised about it by spreading the news.
Irwan spoke of having visited the place out of curiosity, as he saw many people posting details about the beach.
Irwan, who visited along with his family, had been keen to see for themselves, and it was true that it was much better.
“It is much more interesting now, better, and I hope this condition would be maintained. And most of all, address the trash issue,” he remarked.
Sayang Heulang’s icon
Currently, Sayang Heulang Beach has several safe and comfortable facilities, including for pedestrians along the beach, which were offered for free.
The other facilities were the bridge, tower, food court, and gazebos facing the Indian Ocean. Sunset on the beach was particularly a spectacular sight.
A peculiar spot that caught the attention of many people and had become the tourist destination’s icon was the Eagle Wings Monument. It was built in accordance with the beach’s name, Sayang Heulang, which means "an eagle’s place" in Sundanese.
Visitors can enjoy the beach’s views by just paying Rp10 thousand per person. The price was set by the regional regulation pertaining to retribution or tax.
The tourists could enjoy the view of the beach, swim in the waters, and indulge in the view of corals. They could also rent a house, villa, or room, all at affordable prices.
Head of the Garut Tourism and Culture Office Budi Gan Gan stated that ever since the Sayang Heulang Beach was officially established, his administration had actively promoted the newly improved beach in Garut.
The beach garnered the interest of several visitors, as was apparent from the number of new spots and the extent of development initiated by the West Java Government and Garut District Government.
“Sayang Heulang Beach was developed with a funding of Rp14 billion. Sayang Heulang Beach offers the beauty of its beach, mountains of corals, and there is a very beautiful garden, and infrastructures that are much more comfortable (as compared to the condition before),” he stated.
Similarity with Pangandaran
After the infrastructures were built on Sayang Heulang Beach, the regional government also improved other supporting aspects, such as the human resources, starting from the cleaning service to entrepreneurs and tourism managers, so they could manage tourism, just like in Pangandaran.
They were brought to Pangandaran District to learn from Pangandaran Beach's tourism actors in person. All along, they were deemed successful in developing the beach in West Java.
Gan expected that Sayang Heulang's tourism actors would gain some insights after learning from their Pangandaran counterparts, so that they can use their newfound abilities for the upkeep of the beach as a top-tier destination that leaves a good, lasting impression on the minds of its visitors and eventually generates profits for the community.
He expressed interest in taking a cue from Pangandaran District, as it was considered successful in managing the tourism sector pertaining to aspects, such as service, trash management, security, parking, and culinary arts.
All efforts made by the Pangandaran District Government would be implemented in Garut District in several tourism sectors, including in coastal tourism, which has similarities with Pangandaran, he stated.
Gan expects the Sayang Heulang Beach and other beach attractions along the Garut coastline to follow the example set by Pangandaran, whose tourism sector drives economic growth.
"Garut is unlike Pangandaran, but Garut is getting there, and so it is better than Pangandaran," he stated.
The government's efforts to boost the tourism sector must be supported by the community. Those directly involved in the tourism sector are expected to support and facilitate such efforts too, for instance, by always instilling a sense of security and comfort for the visitors.
Everyone must address the issue of inconvenience to visitors, such as illegal fees, unfriendly behavior and unclean surroundings.
The beach currently seemed different, and everyone was expected to accept, enjoy, and take care of it. Sayang Heulang Beach, which is currently a top-tier tourist attraction, is expected to drive growth of the economy.
Related news: Bandung: Eid tourists click pictures on Asia Afrika Street
Related news: Garut-Cibatu railway reactivation to benefit people, local economy
Related news: Minang Rua Beach popular among tourists from outside Lampung
Translator: Feri Purnama, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
