Tourism is a sector that contributes significantly to country revenues. According to the MCSTO Annual Report 2018 from the Ministry of Tourism Republic of Indonesia, the tourism sector contributed 5.25% to GDP in Indonesia. Local governments use these values to create momentum to developing the tourism sector in their regions. 

Indonesia has beautiful nature and culture, but something related to its local history can also be built up, such as witnesses of natural disasters and death. These kinds of objects seemingly attract many tourists fascinated with dark historical values that bring them to keep exploring the existence of its history and culture. This concept is common-known as dark tourism. 

Dark tourism, also known as grief tourism, travels to historical places where wars, tragedies, disasters, or death occurred. The goal is to reminisce and learn the background of the events in that place—many travel destinations are considered dark tourism in Indonesia. Perhaps you are interested in visiting, though.

Tana Toraja

 

 

 

 

 

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Tana Toraja is safely protected beyond the lofty mountains and rugged granite cliffs of the central highlands of the island of Sulawesi and the home of the Toraja people. 'Discovered' and opened to the world from their long isolation only since the beginning of the last century, the Toraja today still adhere to their age-old beliefs, rituals, and traditions. However, many of her people are modernized or have embraced Christianity.

The Aceh Tsunami Museum

The Aceh Tsunami Museum is located on Jalan Iskandar Muda Street, Banda Aceh, and is open daily (except Friday) from 10.00-12.00 noon and 15.00-17.00 West Indonesia Time. The Museum building has adopted the traditional raised Aceh House, while at the same time it resembles a ship with its protruding funnel.

Lapindo Mud Tragedy Monument

A monument to the Lapindo mud volcano tragedy in Sidoarjo with a mocking "statue" of Aburizal Bakrie, PT Lapindo Brantas, stuck in the mud. A total of 300 families in the village of Besuki, which lies just outside the mud levee built around the Lapindo mud volcano, have finally received compensation for their land and houses.

After a seven-year wait, they are the last village to receive payments from the Government or the Sidoarjo Mud Mitigation Agency (BPLS). Many residents have already vacated their homes and moved to new houses, but some still live in the old village. 

Sisa Hartaku Mini Museum

Sisa Hartaku Mini Museum is located in Sleman. It takes about one hour to drive from Yogyakarta city. Like its name, Sisa Hartaku Museum keeps items still left since the eruption of Mount Merapi in 2010. Before being used as a museum, the building was the home of a resident named Watinem. Sriyanto, son of Watinem, collected the remains of their property swept away by the eruption to remember the incident and remember the victims’ families. The more items ordered attract people to stop by and look at the rest of the things. Gradually more and more people came not only from the closest people but also tourists. 

Monumen Ground Zero Bali

Ground Zero could be reached only about 7 km or 26 minutes from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. The Monument is located in the area of the bomb blast. The most prominent part of this monument is “Kayonan,” with a shape like a giant wooden white leaf as a symbol of the universe and its content which there is a piece of inscriptions at the bottom that includes a list of all the victims who died and their nationality in the tragedy.

This monument reminds us of a horrible event: the Kuta Bali bombing on Saturday night, October 12, 2002, at Legian Kuta Street, which killed 202 people from 22 countries, and 324 people suffered severe injuries and wounds. The monument was named “Panca Benua Monument.” The establishment of this monument expects to provide positive vibrations to live together harmoniously, peacefully, and safely.