Sabang Marine Festival 2024

Sabang Marine Festival telah dilaksanakan pada tanggal 1 -3 Maret 2024 di Kota Sabang, Provinsi Aceh dan tahun ini untuk kedua kalinya telah kembali terpilih masuk dalam Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN).   Gambaran Umum

• Sabang Marine Festival (SMF) merupakan sebuah event yang diinisiasi oleh Badan Pengusahaan Kawasan Sabang (BPKS) berkolaborasi dengan Pemerintah Kota Sabang, Pemerintah Aceh melalui Dinas Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata Aceh, serta stakeholder lainnya dengan tujuan untuk mempromosikan potensi bahari, pariwisata dan ekonomi kreatif Kota Sabang.
• Event yang pertama kali diselenggarakan pada tahun 2015 ini awalnya dikhususkan untuk menyambut para yachter yang berlabuh di Kota Sabang, namun kini konsep pelaksanaan event SMF sudah berubah menjadi sebuah festival pesta rakyat yang di nanti-nantikan banyak orang. Pada tahun 2024, dengan tagline "“Perayaan Budaya Bahari Terbesar di Aceh ”, SMF kembali terpilih dalam 110 Karisma Event Nusantara untuk yang kedua kalinya.

  Rangkaian Kegiatan 🔴 Hari-1 : 1 Maret 2023 🔹 Opening Ceremony Lokasi: Menara Merah Putih   Kegiatan ini dihadiri oleh:

1. Anggota Komisi IV DPR RI - Bapak T.A Khalid
2. Asisten 1 Pemerintah Provinsi Aceh - Bapak Azwardi Abdullah;
3. Adyatama Ahli Utama - Ibu Nia Niscaya
4. Pj Wali Kota Sabang - Bapak Reza Fahlevi
5. Wali Kota dan Bupati se-Provinsi Aceh dan Bupati Merauke atau yang mewakili;
6. Perwakilan dari Kemenkomarves, Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan, KLHK, Kemenko Perekonomian, Bappenas dan Kementerian Luar Negeri serta KL lainnya
7. Kepala BPKS, Bapak Marthunis;
8. Kepala Dinas Pariwisata Provinsi, Kota, dan Kabupaten se-Provinsi Aceh;
9. Unsur Forkopimda Kota Sabang dan Provinsi Aceh;
10. Peneliti dari ITB - Prof. Dr. Eng. Ir. Teuku Abdullah Sany, M.Sc
11. Perwakilan Konsulat Jendral India - Mr. Naveen Meghwal (Director of SVCC Bali)
12. Perwakilan Sponsor

  Rangkaian acara:

• Opening Act "World Music Collaboration"

The Budi's, Rapai Geleng, Dance Contemporer & Syekh Al Mujadid

• Pembacaan Doa oleh Tengku Dedi Maskur
• Sambutan oleh Pj. Walikota Sabang, Bapak Reza Fahlevi, yang menyampaikan :
• Sabang Marine Festival (SMF) adalah event yang berfokuskan pada prinsip Community Based Tourism (CBT) dan oleh karena itu penyelenggaraannya melibatkan banyak pihak dan stake holder baik dari pemerintah daerah, provinsi, komunitas dan swasta. Selain itu event ini juga melibatkan desa atau gampong-gampong wisata di daerah Pulau Weh mulai dari dalam pelaksanaan perhelatan adat, perlombaan permainan rakyat, berbagai festival budaya, dan juga kegiatan konservasi lingkungan berupa costal & coral clean up di beberapa destinasi wisata di Kota Sabang.
• Tahun lalu, Sabang Marine Festival berhasil mencatat peningkatan transaksi ekonomi pada industri kuliner, transportasi, akomodasi, serta produk dan jasa kreatif lainnya. Lebih dari 2.000 orang pelaku industri kreatif dan peserta kegiatan dari berbagai lapisan masyarakat terlibat dalam penyelenggaraan kegiatan ini
• Pada tahun ini SMF menargetkan ternyadinya peningkatan kunjungan, transaksi ekonomi, serta pelibatan lebih banyak komunitas dan kelompok masyarakat lainnya untuk berpartisipasi. Diharapkan dengan peningkatan tersebut dapat memberikan kontribusi terhadap target kunjungan wisatawan ke Kota Sabang didukung juga dengan berbagai pelaksanaan event lainnya
• Launching Kalender Pariwisata Aceh "Khasanah Piasan Nanggroe" dan "Digitalisasi Kawasan Wisata Pemerintah Kota & Bank Indonesia" oleh pemukulan alat musik rapa’i oleh Pj. Walikota Sabang bersama dengan para tamu undangan VVIP
• Opening Remarks dari Kemenparekraf yang diwakili oleh Ibu Nia Niscaya - Adyatama Kepariwisataan dan Ekonomi Kreatif Ahli Utama, yang menyampaikan beberapa hal, diantara lain:
• Apresiasi kepada seluruh pihak yang telah berkolaboradi dalam penyelenggara Sabang Marine Festival 2024, sehingga event ini dapat kembali terpilih sebagai salah satu event dalam Karisma Event Nusantara.
• Dari sudut pandang pariwisata, penyelenggaraan event daerah bukanlah hanya sebuah selebrasi semata namun ia memiliki 3 tujuan, pertama sebagai sarana promosi pariwisata, kedua untuk mengangkat keunikan tempat wisata dan ketiga untuk menggerakkan ekonomi masyarakat dengan menciptakan atraksi wisata baru melalui event
• Melalui penyelenggaraan Sabang Marine Festival 2024 yang mengangkat keunikan sejarah, budaya, dan potensi maritim Kota Sabang, diharapkan dapat menjadi unique selling point yang dapat dikembangkan menjadi strategi promosi yang menarik untuk memperkenalkan Sabang secara lebih luas. Apalagi, Sabang memiliki keuntungan geografis karena lokasinya yang sangat dekat dengan market utama wisatawan kita yaitu Malaysia (Langkawi), Thailand (Phuket), dan bahkan India.
• Selamat dan sukses tak lupa juga saya ucapkan atas peluncuran Calendar of Event Provinsi Aceh yaitu Khasanah Piasan Nanggroe pada hari ini. Diharapkan dengan peluncuran calendar of event yang berisi event event terbaik Aceh ini juga dapat semakin meningkatkan kunjungan wisatawan di Indonesia khususnya di Aceh dan juga mempromosikan keunikan budaya dari Serambi Mekah Indonesia kepada dunia.
• Penampilan tari kolosal "Peasan Meulaot" karya koreografer Yusri Sulcari Skenaiman Asyeek
• Pawai Marine di tepi dermaga Menara Merah Putih yg meliputi pawai dari 70 boat nelayan, pertunjukan fly board, paralayang, dan wind surfing.

  🔹 Sabang Music Culture

• Maraton Art & Music Performances

Riwang X From Zero X Sidak X Dance KM 0 X X Sanggar Al-Hijrah X Sanggar Batee Ruby X Sanggar Pertiwi X Silat Tapak Suci.

• World Music Collaboration

The Budi’s X Rapai Geleng X Dance Contemporer X Marching Band (Senar) & Beatbox X Syekh X Al-Mujadid 🔹 Eksibisi Seni 🔹 Pameran Gampong Nelayan, Festival Jajanan Kongsi, Instalasi Seni, Pasar Malam Sabang   🔴 Hari-2: 2 Maret 2024 Rangkaian kegiatan antara lain: 🔹Pelepasan Tour de Sabang Rute : Kantor Walikota Sabang - Monumen 0 Km 🔹Sabang Cultural Parade Rute: Kantor Walikota Sabang - CT1 Peserta: Lebih dari 800 peserta yang menapilkan diantaranya pertunjukan Marching Band, Fire Dance, Kostum Karnaval, Pakaian Adat, Putri Bunga, dan Ikon ikon kota Sabang. 🔹 Coastal Clean Up (Bersih-Bersih Pantai) 🔹 Lomba Renang Pesisir dilaksanakan di Dermaga Merah Putih dengan 32 peserta 🔹Sabang Music Culture - Talk Show "Cinta Bangga Paham Rupiah" 🔹 Eksibisi Seni

• Odissi Dan ce Workshop – Konjen India
• AK-04, Versus Reborn, The Boss
• Gita Handayani ft Fransisca Simbolon

🔹 Pameran Gampong Nelayan, Festival Jajanan Kongsi, Instalasi Seni, Pasar Malam Sabang   🔴 Hari-3: 3 Maret 2024 Rangkaian kegiatan antara lain: 🔹 Yoga Training "Yoga with The View" 🔹 Fishing Tournament 🔹 Lomba Pacu Jalow & Ekshibisi Perahu Naga 🔹 Khanduri Meulaot   Kesimpulan dan Evaluasi Kegiatan

• Sabang Marine Festival 2024 telah berlangsung dengan lancar dan sukses pada tanggal 1 - 3 Maret 2024. Tahun ini Sabang Marine Festival yang Kembali dilaksanakan dengan konsep pesta rakyat sehingga keterlibatan dan antusiasme masyarakat terlihat sangat besar untuk hadir dan memeriahkan event ini.
• Sabang Marine Festival memiliki potensi cukup besar untuk menjadi event unggulan yang mendatangkan wisman dikarenakan Sabang merupakan salah satu pintu masuk dan persinggahan cruise dan yacht dari mancanegara.
• Dalam hal aksesilibitas, lokasi penyelenggaraan Sabang Marine Festival cukup mudah dijangkau karena berada di pusat Kota Sabang sehingga menarik masyarakat dan wisatawan nusantara untuk hadir pada event tersebut. Lokasi venue yang juga dekat dengan dermaga membuat venue semakin aksesible bagi wisatawan baik nusantara maupun mancanegara.
• Upaya untuk mengangkat kearifan budaya lokal pada event Sabang Marine Festival sudah terlihat cukup baik. Hal ini dapat dilihat mulai dari penggunaan kostum khas Aceh untuk para penampil seni, atraksi yang mengangkat sejarah dan kearifan lokal, penampilan tari dan musik tradisi, serta dekorasi stand UMKM yang memanfaatkan material lokal yaitu bilik bambu, kayu dan daun kelapa.
• SMF menunjukan juga nilai kolaborasi yang sangat baik karena dalam pelaksanaannya SMF melibatkan banyak stakeholder baik pemerintah, komunitas, swasta dan masyarakat sekitar dalam pelaksanaan event ini. Koordinasi dengan panitia serta stakeholder terkait berjalan dengan lancar baik sejak persiapan sampai dengan pelaksanaan event.
• Pemilihan venue utama yang mengambil lokasi Menara Merah Putih yang juga merupakan landmark kota cukup berhasil mengangkat kekhasan dan keindahan Kota Sabang sekaligus menjadikan event berkesan ramah serta tidak berjarak antara penampil dengan penonton.

Keberadaan venue venue pendukung lainnya yang tersebar di seluruh Kota Sabang juga menjadikan event ini dekat dengan masyarakat dan memungkinkan interaksi yang lebih antara penampil dan pengunjung.

• Promosi dan publikasi Sabang Marine Festival sudah dilakukan dengan cukup baik antara lain dengan membuat media sosial event dan promosi media luar ruang seperti pemasangan baliho di beberapa titik strategis baik di Kota Banda Aceh dan Sabang. Promosi ini dirasa akan lebih efektif lagi jika dalam materi promosi juga dapat turut menampilkan konten / pengisi acara utama yang menarik agar bisa menarik lebih banyak wisatawan.
• Beberapa hal yang masih perlu ditingkatkan dalam penyelenggaran Sabang Marine Festival antara lain:
• Mempertimbangkan antusiasme dan jumlah pengunjung yang cukup banyak, maka untuk kedepannya pengaturan area parkir kendaraan dan kelancaran lalu lintas disekitar area event dapat ditingkatkan.
• Pemilihan konsep 'open air' memanfaatkan ruang terbuka tanpa menggunakan tenda untuk para tamu undangan menarik dan berhasil, namun kedepannya perlu diantisipasi juga kondisi seperti panas/silau untuk posisi tertentu kursi undangan yang menghadap matahari dan efek backlight dokumentasi di panggung utama.
• Crowd control selama acara sudah cukup baik namun masih dapat ditingkatkan kembali dengan pembuatan titik keluar dan masuk yang dedicated.
• Pengaturan kebersihan di area terutama untuk acara malam dalam Sabang Music Culture masih perlu ditingkatkan untuk meningkatkan kenyamanan pengunjung.

  ENGLISH TRANSLATION Aceh Ramadhan Festival 2024 was held from March 28^th to April 1^st, 2024 in Banda Aceh City, Aceh Province.   General Overview

• Aceh Ramadhan Festival is Aceh Province’s key annual event, organized by Aceh Provincial Government through its Culture and Tourism Office, and designed to be a leading halal tourism destination in Indonesia. This year, this event is once again selected into the Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) program by the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (MoTCE), marking its fourth consecutive win, four years in a row.
• The event is a collaboration between the Aceh Provincial Office for Culture and Tourism, the Provincial Office for Islamic Sharia, Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, MoTCE, Banda Aceh Municipality, Bank Indonesia, Bank Sharia Indonesia, Bank Aceh, and Rumah Zakat (a community-based distributor of Zakah, a form of almsgiving in Islam). On this occasion, Bank Indonesia supported the event by organizing expos at varying locations in Banda Aceh, launching the “Serambi” program that provides the public with small denomination bills required during Ramadhan and the upcoming Eid al-Fitr, and promoting the tagline #RoadToFESyarSumatera2024.
• This year marks the sixth Aceh Ramadhan Festival, hoisting the theme “"Immerse Yourself into the Spiritual Journey in the Front Porch of Mecca ". The main attractions were concentrated at Aceh’s iconic landmark, the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque; making this event a celebration of the holy month of Ramadhan adorned in local traditions and sacred Islamic rituals, intending to strengthen the Muslim faith while offering an elating and exuberant spiritual experience for Aceh citizens and visitors.
• The event was held for five days in two approximal locations. The main event was held in Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, while the entertainment attractions were staged at the Sagoe Piasan square on the former Hotel Aceh site.
• The Baiturrahman Grand Mosque square hosted the following activities: Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Snack Market, The Serambi and Halal Fair, Ramadhan Zikr (recitation of prayers), The Meudrah (community dialog unique to Acehnese) on Islamic Discourses, Ramadhan Parade, The Khauri Peutamat Daroih (Quran recitation Parade), Community Iftar (breaking of the fast), Isya and Tarawih Prayers, Quran Clinic and Tahsin (Quran reading) Class, Ramadhan Sermon, Quran Recitation Contest, Gampong Aceh Ramadhan (Aceh Ramadhan village), The Khauri Kanji (tapioca porridge feast), Dalael Khairat Exhibition (series of praises for Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h), and Donation for 400 Orphans.
• The attractions at Sagoe Piasan square comprised MSME Bazaar, Islamic Arts Performance, Brief Sermon Before Iftar, Speech Contest, Storytelling Contest, and Traditional religious Musical Performance.
• The event at this venue was attended by the following:

1. 1. Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Mr. Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno;
   2. Acting Governor of Aceh, Mr. Bustami Hamzah;
   3. Member of the 10^th Commission of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Illiza Sa'aduddin Djamal;
   4. Grand Imam of Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, Mr. H. Azman Ismail;
   5. MoTCE’s Senior Advisor for Tourist Destination Security and Strategic Issues, Mr. Ario Prawiseso;
   6. Acting Mayor of Banda Aceh, Mr. Amiruddin;
   7. 2^nd Assistant to the Banda Aceh Municipal Secretariat, Mr. Fadhil;
   8. Director of Regional Events, MoTCE, Mr. Reza Fahlevi;
   9. Director of Creative Economy Human Resource Development, MoTCE, Mr. Fahmy Akmal;
   10. Head of Aceh Provincial Culture and Tourism Office, Mr. Almuniza Kamal;
   11. Heads of Regency/Municipal Tourism Departments in Aceh Province;
   12. Strategy and Promotion Team Leader, Directorate of Regional Events, MoTCE, Mr. Eni Komiarti;
   13. Heads of Districts in Banda Aceh;
   14. Government officials from Aceh Provincial and Banda Aceh Municipal Administrations;
   15. Religious Leaders, Indigenous Leaders, academics, communities, media journalists, and tourism/creative economy professionals.

    Event Rundown   🔴 Day One: Thursday, March 28, 2024  

• Opening of the Snack Market and Serambi & Halal Fair on 16:30 to 18:30 Western Indonesian Time at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque squares.
• Opening of the Sagoe Piasan Aceh Ramadhan Festival and MSME Bazaar (1^st session) on on 16:30 to 18:30 at the former Hotel Aceh site.
• The Sagoe Piasan Aceh Islamic Arts Performance by Fahmil Arabi and Menzeel Nasyeed.
• Ramadhan Zikr, Iftar, Maghrib prayer, Isya prayer, and Tarawih prayer in Baiturrahman Grand Mosque.
• Qur’an Recitation Contest on 22:00 to 23:00 West Indonesia Time at the former Hotel Aceh site.
• Opening of the Sagoe Piasan Aceh Ramadhan Festival and MSEM Bazaar (2^nd session) on 22:00 to 23:00 Western Indonesia Time.
• Open Gate Sagoe Piasan Aceh Ramadhan Festival dan Bazar UMKM (Sesi II) pada pukul 22.00 s.d. 23.00 WIB.

  🔴 Day Two: Friday, March 29, 2024  

• The Meudrah on Islamic Discourses by Habib Hayqal Alaydrus on 14:30 to 15:30 Western Indonesian Time at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque.
• Opening of the Aceh Ramadhan village, Snack Market, and Serambi & Halal Fair on 16:30 to 18:30 Western Indonesian Time at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque.
• Opening of the Sagoe Piasan Aceh Ramadhan Festival and MSME Bazaar (1^st session) on 16:30 to 18:30 Western Indonesian Time at the former Hotel Aceh site.
• Ramadhan Parade or Decorated Vehicles Parade by representatives of nine districts in Banda Aceh, starting from the Banda Aceh City Hall and finishing at the Banda Aceh Municipal House of Representative.
• Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Aceh Ramadhan Festival, with the following rundown:
• Opening performance by the Collaborative Islamic Arts Attraction by Gita Handayani featuring the Aceh Institute for Islam Cultural Arts.
• Inauguration and Visitation of the Aceh Ramadhan Festival Snack Market, Serambi and Halal Fair, Aceh Ramadhan Village, and Traditional Games Exhibition by Acting Governor of Aceh and Acting Mayor of Banda Aceh.
• Symbolic Distribution of Insurance Benefits by the Indonesian Labor Social Security Agency (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan) and Symbolic Distribution of the Meunasah QRIS (QR Indonesia Standard) and Halal Certificate.
• Official opening by Acting Governor of Aceh, Acting Mayor of Banda Aceh, and Head of Aceh Provincial Culture and Tourism Office.
• Ramadhan Zikr and the Khauri Peutamat Daroih (Quran recitation parade)
• Iftar, Maghrib prayer, Isya prayer, and Tarawih prayer at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque.
• Sagoe Piasan Aceh Islamic Arts Performance by the Raudhatul Bunaya and Zikrayat Gambus art groups.
• Brief Sermon Before Iftar by Habib Hayqal Alaydrus at the former Hotel Aceh square.
• Speech Contest at the former Hotel Aceh square.
• Opening of the Sagoe Piasan Aceh Ramadhan Festival and MSME Bazaar (2^nd session) on 22:00 to 23:00 Western Indonesian Time.

  🔴 Day Three: Saturday, March 30, 2024  

• The Meudrah on Islamic Discourses by Habib Umar Ba’bud followed by Quran Clinic and Quran Reading Class by Ustaz Mujtahid Anwar on 14:30 to 15:30 Western Indonesian Time at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque.
• Opening of the Aceh Ramadhan Village, Snack Market, and Serambi and Halal Fair on 16:30 to 18:30 Western Indonesian Time at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque square.
• Opening of the Sagoe Piasan Aceh Ramadhan Festival and MSME Bazaar (2^nd session) on 16:30 to 18:30 Western Indonesian Time at the former Hotel Aceh square.
• Sagoe Piasan Islamic Art Performance by the Baytul Qur’an Hadrah (Islamic musical art) group.
• Brief Sermon Before Iftar by Ustaz Khalid Muddatsir.
• Ramadhan Zikr, Iftar, Maghrib prayer, Isya prayer, and Tarawih at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque.
• Storytelling Contest on 22:00 to 23:00 Western Indonesian Time at the former Hotel Aceh square.
• Opening of the Sagoe Piasan Aceh Ramadhan Festival and MSME Bazaar (2^nd session) on 22:00 to 23:00 Western Indonesian Time.

  🔴 Day Four: Sunday, March 31, 2024  

• The Meudrah on Islamic Discourses by Tengku Muntasir Waly on 13:30 to 14:30 Western Indonesian Time.
• Quran Clinic and Quran Reading Class by Ustaz Mujtahid Anwar on 14:30 to 18:00 at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque.
• Quran Reading Contest on 14:00 to 18:00 at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque.
• Opening of Aceh Ramadhan Village, Snack Market, Serambi and Halal Fair on 16:30 to 18:30 Western Indonesian Time at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque.
• Opening of Sagoe Piasan Aceh Ramadhan Festival and MSME Bazaar (1^st session) on 16:30 to 18:30 Western Indonesian Time at the former Hotel Aceh square.
• Traditional Religious Music Performance by the Tangke Band.
• Winners announcement of the Quran Recitation Contest.
• Aceh Islamic Arts Performance, the Sudi dance and the Hadrah Zawiyah Nurunnabi
• Brief Sermon Before Iftar by Tengku Zul Arafah.
• Ramadhan Zikr, Iftar, Maghrib prayer, Isya prayer, and Tarawih prayer at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque.
• Opening of Sagoe Piasan Aceh Ramadhan Festival and MSME Bazaar (2^nd session) on 22:00 to 23:00 WIB.

  🔴 Day Five: Monday, April 1, 2024  

• Opening of Aceh Ramadhan Village, Snack Market, and Serambi and Halal Fair on 15:00 to 18:30 Western Indonesian Time at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque square.
• Opening of Sagoe Piasan Aceh Ramadhan Festival and MSME Bazaar (1^st session) on 15:00 to 18:30 Western Indonesian Time at the former Hotel Aceh square.
• Aceh Islamic Arts Performance, the Rapa’i Geleng dance by the Geuma Pasee Nanggroe
• Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy’s official visit, consisting of the following schedule:
• Discussion session with MSME vendors on the Sagoe Piasan stage at the former Hotel Aceh square.
• The MoTCE rides an auto-rickshaw to Baiturrahim Grand Mosque and visiting the Snack Market.
• Welcoming the MoTCE with the Hikayat Aceh and Dalael Khairat
• Ngabuburit (spending time in wait for Iftar time) at the Aceh Ramadhan Village by playing the Synchronized Bakiak (board shoes) Race, an Acehnese traditional game.
• MoTCE visits the Khauri Kanji (tapioca porridge feast), cooking the Acehnese traditional porridge on a large pot, served by representatives from nine districts in Banda Aceh, and distributing the porridge to citizens/visitors.
• MoTCE heads to the stage for the Closing Ceromony.

 

• Closing Ceremony of the 2024 Aceh Ramadhan Festival comprised the following schedule:
• Address by Acting Governor of Aceh, who remarked as follows:

The governor extends his appreciation to the strong collaboration between the Central Government and the Provincial Government in organizing the 2024 Aceh Ramadhan Festival, as a special momentum in introducing Aceh people’s tradition, local wisdom, and Islamic cultures. Aceh citizens should be proud that this event has once again been selected into the KEN 2024, an elite list of Indonesia’s finest tourism events. The governor hopes that the spirit of Ramadhan reflected in this event may grace the people with blessings, peace, inspiration for virtue, and harmony in promoting Aceh’s tourism and creative economy sectors.

• Closing speech by the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, who remarked as follows:

The minister extends his appreciation to the Aceh Provincial Government, in particular the Provincial Culture and Tourism Office, and all stakeholders involved in the organization of the 2024 Aceh Ramadhan Festival that has been selected into the KEN program, marking its 4^th consecutive win.  Indonesia sits on the 1^st rank of the 2023 Global Muslim Travel Index, with culinary tourism being her dominantly sought-after tourist attraction. Aceh Ramadhan Festival is one of the religious tourist attractions that offer unique experiences to visitors and feature a culinary MSME Bazaar that fulfills the 63% of tourists’ demands. It is hoped that the economic influences of the tourism and creative economy sectors may further contribute to the welfare of the population. The minister also encourages the Aceh Provincial Government and Aceh citizens to better prepare themselves as the host of the upcoming National Sports Week in September this year. This event has high potentials to boost the region’s economy, particularly for local vendors and professionals in the tourism and creative economy sectors.

• Awarding of the Appreciatory Plaquette to the Heads of Districts from nine districts in Banda Aceh city.
• Photograph session and media doorstop.
• Communal Zikr and alms-donation to 400 orphans.
• The Iftar, Maghrib prayer, Isya prayer, and Tarawih prayer in Baiturrahman Grand Mosque.

  Conclusion and Evaluation

• Overall, the 2024 Aceh Ramadhan Festival has been completed properly and efficiently, having garnered significant enthusiasms from local visitors. The event has also attained sufficient collaboration and involvement between stakeholders. Its content comprised Aceh’s diverse traditions and local wisdom, in the form of arts performances and culinary delights; showcasing Ramadhan spiritual experiences draped in local traditions and culture as Aceh’s unique selling point.
• The concentration of the event’s main activities at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque square allows visitors to revel in the mosque’s grandeur while appreciating the event’s attractions, and at the same time gaining as much spiritual experience as their hearts desire, through various religious and cultural activities, for instance wearing Muslim attires that are mandated by the local regulation. The entertainments and MSME Bazaar were held at the former Aceh Hotel square, very closely-located to the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, accessible in only 5 minutes’ walk. Auto rickshaws were also available around the venue as an alternative transportation.
• The event’s venue layout was adequate but could still be improved by designating spaces for media journalists, medical stations, and procuring portable toilets for invited guests as well as general visitors during the 5-day event. The Festival’s esthetics in general were sufficient, particularly from the local wisdom traits that were highlighted. However, the MSME Bazaar needs to be improved by providing other Acehnese local commodities in addition to culinary products.
• On the 3A (Attraction, Accessibility, Amenities) aspects, the event was adequate considering it was held in Banda Aceh city center. However, there was a lack of amenities in terms of eateries since most restaurants in Banda Aceh are closed during the fasting month of Ramadhan. Efforts need to be made in future event organization in order to accommodate non-Muslim visitors who are not fasting.
• Event management needs to be improved in anticipating bad weather, such as raining, considering the event was held outdoors.
• Visitors’ safety and comfort were handled adequately, but they could be improved by providing evacuation routes, medical stations, ambulance units, portable toilets, and fire extinguishers. The cleanliness aspect was adequate, but it could be improved by providing more wastebins and making sure they’re easily accessible, and by raising public awareness in keeping the environment clean.
• For future organization, the event can be improved by incorporating the principles of environmental sustainability, starting from remodeling the event’s concept, decorations, adopting waste segregation, reducing plastic waste and encouraging MSME vendors to replace it with Styrofoam materials.
• In terms of promotional strategies, there is room for improvement; both in conventional and digital promotion initiatives. One of the ways is by better utilizing websites and social media more consistently and sustainably in posting promotional materials with appealing narratives, and posting them well ahead of schedule. The promotions need to be delivered bilingually, in Indonesian and English, considering Aceh is already widely known nationally and internationally as one of Indonesia’s leading halal or Muslim-friendly tourist destinations. Effective and efficient promotions could better promote Aceh Ramadhan Festival to domestic and foreign tourists as their first-choice destination during the holy month of Ramadhan, for the unique spiritual experience it offers.
• In the future, Aceh Ramadhan Festival should be able to work in collaboration with more stakeholders in designing travel plans and tourism packages. It should also prioritize on adopting a strong Storynomics approach, especially by targeting the religious special-interest tourism segment. This is imperative in order to increase domestic and international tourism visits to Aceh, especially during the Aceh Ramadhan Festival.