The Potential of Tropical Sea Salt Farming for the Development of Geo-educational tourism in Indonesia
Tukul Rameyo Adi (a), Anwar Kurniawan (b), Mahfud Effendi (c)

a) senior salt expert at Kristal Laut Nusantara Cooperation
b) Executive Director at Anta Tirta Karisma Company
c) Professor at University of Trunojoyo Madura

Abstract

The production of salt from seawater by communities in Indonesia has been documented since the seventh century in the reliefs of the Borobudur temple. This practice is most prevalent in the islands of Madura and the northern coast of Java. This method of producing salt from seawater is referred to as the Maduris method. Additionally, traditional seawater salt production is observed in various regions of Indonesia, including Aceh, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, and Sulawesi.
We propose ^Tropical Sea Salt Farming^ as a potential branding term for seawater salt produced by communities in Indonesia. The term is used to describe the method of salt production on the farm, which is influenced by the surrounding natural conditions. It also refers to the type of salt production and its utilisation, which is generally related to local culture, such as food, health and fitness. It is not used to describe the production of industrial salt chlor-alkali plants (CAPs), which are currently produced on a large scale in Australia, China and India.
Despite the tropical sea salt farming industry^s slower development compared to that of CAP salt, the necessity for products derived from tropical sea salt has increased significantly in recent times, particularly in response to the demands of a healthy lifestyle and the growing trend towards a more natural way of living. A number of novel approaches have been initiated with the objective of manufacturing a diverse range of products derived from tropical sea salt farming, with a particular focus on the tourism and creative economy sectors. Amed Salt represents a case in point, being a product of tropical sea salt that has been granted Geographical Indication status.
This paper will examine the potential of tropical sea salt farming in the development of more comprehensive geo-educational tourism in Indonesia, with particular reference to previous developments and initiatives, especially those of Trunojoyo University and Kristal Laut Nusantara on Madura Island, Bali Island, Cirebon and Indramayu districts. Furthermore, this paper addresses the constraints and conditions of the social-ecological system (SES) that must be enabled, and it presents a model of geo-educational tourism based on tropical sea salt farming through multi-stakeholder partnerships in which the community plays a pivotal role.

Keywords: Tropical Sea salt, Artisan, Amed Salt, Mineral, Marine Resources, Geo-Educational, Social-Ecological System

Topic: Geotourism