JITR (Japan Institute of Tourism Research) – Tohoku
on both sides since 1976. The situation also worsened and increased pain
日本観光研究学会東北支部 Newsletterand trauma for the people living within this period.
After years of successful reconstruction work, which were humanly

東北 紀行

supported by donor countries, the people of Aceh managed to overcome thecatastrophes and continued to recover and rebuild their cities and life in many
aspects of their lives.
To our surprise, the catastrophes amidst the difficulties also inspired theTohoku Travelogue

central and local government in collaboration with NGOs, communities, andwith the support and assistance of donor countries, to rebuild Aceh throughtourism, highlighting the local potentials, not only Aceh’s scenic nature and

第 42 号/2022 年1 月/編集：丸岡泰(石巻専修大学)

culture, but also Aceh’s other important Tsunami-related sites or remains“ACEH RECONSTRUCTION POST TSUNAMI IN

including Tsunami Museum, Tsunami monuments, Tsunami memorial parks,

TOURISM REDEVELOPMENT: Opportunities,

Stranded Ship, A Boat Atop the House, Aceh Thanks to the World Park andmany others that were worth promoting for tourists.

Efforts & Challenges towards Improving Aceh”

Rebuilding Tsunami-related sites in Aceh by engaging all stakeholders wasRahmadhani, M.Bus

not only aimed to improve the locals’ livelihoods and to remind future

Director of Investment Planning, Aceh Investment

generations of the worst impacts of the past tragedy, but also to enhance

Office / Former Director of Aceh Tsunami Museum

people’s awareness of disaster risk reduction for future disaster threats.
Nevertheless, reconstructing Aceh post Tsunami through tourism

n mere moments, natural disasters have the power to devastatinglyI

redevelopment was not without any significant challenges. A number ofdestroy the livelihood, human communities and human cultures built overopportunities, efforts and challenges were faced in the efforts to rebuild Aceh

the generations. The Indian Ocean Disaster of December 26th, 2004, for an

better through tourism development in sustainable, inclusive and systematicexample, a powerful earthquake measuring 9.2 on the Richter scale triggeredways.

a massive Tsunami disaster, destroying the shores of several countriesa.

encompassing Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and other countries along

Opportunities

Rahmadhani, an Acehnese who studied tourism management at

the Asian Pacific rim.

postgraduate school in Melbourne, Australia and worked as the director of

The coastal areas of Aceh, one of Indonesia’s north-westernmost provinces,

Aceh Tsunami Museum proposed and introduced ‘Tsunami tourism’for

was also ravaged by the Tsunami. As a result, loss of life and destruction

the first time when he spoke at an international symposium in Osaka

were unavoidable. The Aceh economy with its population of approximatelyPrefecture organized by the National Museum of Ethnology, Japan in 2012.

4.1 million in 2003 was badly affected with a large-scale devastation ofHe said in the symposium that the best way to save lives in a Tsunami is

physical, human resources and livelihoods.

not by building sea walls, but by showing residents what happens. It will giveAs the devastation was massive, the reconstruction efforts were mainly

knowledge to them, so they can save their lives if another Tsunami comes

aimed at providing humanitarian aid, rebuilding the shattered economy andto their area in the future.

creating a politically stable environment. In the face of the emergency, Aceh

Since then, the local government with various support from related

post disaster recovery was not all about stones, cement and other physicalstakeholders in collaboration with local tourism entrepreneurs keenly

issues, but also encompassed other non-physical issues of impacted

continued to promote Aceh as a Tsunami tourism destination. More tourists

communities, because they seriously experienced grievous feelings, such ascome to Aceh to see the aftermath of the Tsunami firsthand than to explore

hopelessness, loss, pressure, fear, anger, sadness, pain, and guilt.

Aceh’s culture and nature. The Tsunami-related sites have turned into

The feelings eventually resulted in long deep internal traumas that need to be

popular tourist attractions.

humanly adopted and accommodated in order to help them move forwards

The locals after participating in many socializations, seminars, FGD, capacity

and regain their life spirit, not only to sustain and live better economically andbuilding programs on tourism run by the local government and NGOs,

socio-culturally, but also to mitigate their life with respect to future unforeseen

welcome Aceh as a designated Tsunami tourism destination aiming atdisaster threats (Rahmadhani, 2010).

creating job opportunities for the locals, reminding subsequent generations of

Unfortunately, at the same time, Aceh experienced a long serious armed

the worse impacts of the tragedy and also enhancing people’s awareness

political conflict between the Free Aceh Movement and the Government ofof disaster risk reduction towards future disaster risks (DRR). Maintaining

Indonesia that lasted a long time and produced a great number of casualties

and promoting post disaster heritage sites, like Tsunami-related sites forexample, have so far become a new significant new niche market for the-1-JITR (Japan Institute of Tourism Research) – Tohoku
tourist destination.

Past Tsunami remnants have become important symbolic reminders of the2004 Tsunami disaster that need to be listed and safeguarded from future

In addition, such tourism promotion has also become an effective medium forloss, damage and vandalism. They will be an important legacy for future

the people of Aceh to thank the global community and leaders for theirmodern communities to learn, unlearn and relearn past human tragedies that

continued solidarity to rebuild Aceh better, to convey the strength, resiliencecreated massive loss and devastation.

and patience of the Aceh people during the tragedy and to build social
togetherness among us.

c.

By promoting this type of tourism, the local government and the locals will

As mentioned above that promoting Aceh as a Tsunami tourism destination

hopefully seize the opportunity to develop the local economy and get benefits

or“memory tourism” after the human tragedy is not without any

as well as generate their incomes participating in the tourism of theirchallenges, a number of challenges were also faced due to the serious disaster

respective areas.

impression, and the emotion and psychology of people to the pastb.

Challenges

catastrophic events.

Efforts

As the Acehnese people just experienced grievous feelings in the aftermath

Although the disaster has been considered catastrophic and massive, itof the disaster, it was impossible to discuss or debate on tourism issues or

eventually proved to be a “blessing in disguise”, which transformed thepromote Aceh as a disaster-based tourism destination. Also, it took sometragedy into an opportunity for the people of Aceh to lead a better life intime to plan and rearrange those catastrophic sites as sustainable tourism

promoting Tsunami or “memory tourism”. Some efforts towards theattractions.

reconstruction were made in order that Tsunami tourism can successfully beconducted and bring about positive impacts for the locals economically, socio-Pros and cons arose when the concept of Tsunami tourism was publicly

culturally and environmentally.

introduced. Many criticized that disaster-based tourism was an exploitationof human misery or a practice that demeans and humiliates local residents,

As many countries might have experienced tragic wars or devastating

especially the survivors. Meanwhile, others also argued that such tourism todisasters in the past, which eventually resulted in massive loss anddevastated areas can offer a boost to the local livelihood and raise awarenessdevastation, they have left us not only scars and traumatic feelings, but alsoof the incident.

a number of diverse devastating remains or remnants, including
heartbreaking stories for its people as living memories to remember. TheyIn short, by ensuring all reconstruction efforts were running successfully in

may include the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake Disaster, the Hiroshimaterms of humanitarian aids, economy and politics and accommodating thePeace Memorial Park, the Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster, Fukushima
Daiichi Nuclear Disaster in Japan, Auschwitz Birkenau in Poland, Tuol Sleng
Genocide Museum in Cambodia, Robben Island Prison Museum in South
Africa and many more.

feelings of the local people, the “memory tourism” has now become

The past Indian Ocean Tsunami also left the people of Aceh not only scars

To sum up, the past devastating disaster events should not remain as theyand trauma, but also tangible and intangible Tsunami remnants thatwere. They should be important lessons for everyone to learn from. Visiting

eventually become Aceh’s Tsunami heritage that are worth safeguarding

the post disaster sites associated with “dark tourism”will also be offor future Tsunami tourism, disaster education and other scientific purposes.

importance for tourists to reflect upon and learn not only about the history

The tangible heritage includes Stranded Ship, A Boat Atop the House, theand the dark side of human beings living within the disaster periods, but also

Grand Mosque of Baiturrahim, Thank World Park, Aceh Tsunami Museum,
Mass Graveyards, Inundation monuments and many more. Meanwhile, theto recall and enhance individuals’resilience from future disaster threats.

popular in Aceh, and the Aceh Tsunami Museum is an iconic reminder of past
Tsunami that will generate incomes for tourism industry participants,
surprisingly many of whom are Tsunami survivors.

The disaster eventually turned from a heartbreaking tragedy into a

intangible heritage includes Tsunami Survivors’story-tellings, Smong orheartwarming opportunity as a“blessing in disguise for the people of Acehindigenous knowledge on disaster risk reduction, songs, poems, images,

helping them to lead a better life in peace by doing things like promoting

stories and annual Tsunami commemoration.

Tsunami tourism or “memory” tourism. This type of tourism will be a

The Aceh Tsunami Museum, for example, has so far been a center for

medium to attract tourists and will finally impact on creating job opportunities

mitigation, recreation and evacuation. As a symbol of strength, patience andfor the locals, reminding subsequent generations of the worst impacts of theresilience of the people of Aceh in the past catastrophic disaster, the museum

tragedy and enhancing people’s awareness of disaster risk reduction.

has served not only as a 2004 symbolic reminder, a civic pride of past living

Amazingly, the tragedy also paved a way to end the prolonged politicalmemories, but also as a fundamental medium for education andconflict between the parties that has eventually become an importantreconstruction in preserving and disseminating the living stories and lessons

beginning to historically mark Aceh’s reconstruction process with thelearnt as TeLL-Net (Transferring live lessons network) from past disaster

popular taglines “No peace without reconstruction and no reconstruction

experiences by always engaging the survivors and visitors http://www.tell-without peace” and “Let’s build Aceh back better”.

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