The 2023 Sabang Marine Festival Presents Maritime-Culture Potentials

VIVA – The biggest marine event in Aceh, the 2023 Sabang Marine Festival was officially opened on Friday. This activity aims to introduce the potential of Aceh's marine and cultural wealth to tourists.

The event themed Gateway to Indonesia's Maritime Wealth, features cultural and marine parades and the colossal dance 'Tuah Bak Jaroe Panglima' which is the icon of the 2023 Sabang Marine Festival.

Regional Event Director of the Deputy for Tourism Products and Activity Organizers of the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy who also serves as Acting Mayor of Sabang, Reza Fahlevi said, the Sabang Marine Festival illustrates the history of Sabang from the Greek period to the present, where Sabang's attractiveness comes from marine wealth.

This activity also describes maritime activities by strengthening the concept of Sabang's diverse cultures. In addition to the cultural parade, this activity also featured a convoy of dozens of boats owned by local fishermen.

Decorated with knick-knacks, the fishing boats performed sea attractions in front of the Tugu Merah Putih. The fishermen in typical clothing also beat rapai, which is a traditional Acehnese musical instrument, as a form of the strong tradition of fishing with ancestral culture in Aceh.

Reza Fahlevi said that the Marine Parade was part of the Sabang Marine Festival 2023 which raised the concept of culture and tradition of fishing on Weh Island.

"This concept is more about the marine culture. This is also a form of dedication and effort to preserve our marine wealth as well as the traditions of our ancestors to this sea," he said.

In addition to fishermen, the marine parade also involved windsurfers, paramotors, flying boarding, and jet skis, who showed off their skills in entertaining thousands of people and tourists in Sabang until Sunday, March 19.

Reza Fahlevi hopes that the presence of Sabang Marine Festival 2023 can invite more domestic and foreign tourists to visit the westernmost island of Indonesia while enjoying the natural beauty and cultural richness of Aceh in Sabang.

"So, it will have a positive impact on the people of Sabang and also promote Sabang as the gateway to Indonesia's maritime wealth," Fahlevi concluded.