Sharia in Aceh might put a cast on foreign tourism to the province

JAKARTA- Let’s be frank about it: Aceh has never been a major tourist destination for world travellers looking at Indonesia. The province has been long marred by conflicts with Acehnese groups of fundamentalists fighting against the central government. In 2004, the region was affected by a giant tsunami in the Andaman Sea. Aceh paid the heaviest tribute to the catastrophe. From an estimated 230,000 dead people (the official counting gives a total number of 185,000 victims), 168,000 estimated victims (137,000 official) were recorded in Indonesia, over 95% taking place in Aceh alone. The tsunami had however a positive effect. It helped opening peace discussions and consequently helped boosting tourism. Over the last decade, Aceh has turned into a popular diving destination while the Aceh Tsunami Museum became an attraction for foreign travellers.  Sabang with its annual regatta and now Weh Island are promoted as pristine marine areas by Indonesia Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy. Weh Island has diverse marine natural wonders such as scorpion fish, barracudas, whale sharks and colorful coral branches. 
 

Although Aceh people are extremely welcoming and a warm hospitable folk, the recent adoption by the government of the shariah law in December 2013 with Aceh Governor Zaini Abdullah signing the decree approving the “Qanun Jinayat”. The law requires both Muslims and non-Muslims to follow sharia. According to local media, anyone transgressing the Sharia law, regardless of its religion, will be tried under Islamic law, Saleh said. Non-Muslims who violate the Criminal Code (KUHP) have the option to be tried in either sharia or regular court. Violations such as drinking liquor or not wearing the hijab (veil) for woman could be punished by caning.
 

The new bylaws authorise however Sharia police, prosecutors and judges to detain violators for 15 to 60 days in case of investigation, trial or sentence warrants. Until now, Sharia enforcement officials were only permitted to arrest and briefly detain violators for counselling on Sharia norms but had no authority to put them in jail. It is not sure that Aceh authorities will strictly implement the law for foreign travellers if they do not oblige to local religious customs. Visitors to Aceh are already warned about the very strict religious code as well as social etiquette to be sure that they will not face problems. However, the idea of implementing sharia on any individual is likely to discourage travellers who might be scared of doing something wrong when visiting the province. Tourism authorities will need then to communicate properly with the travel trade to explain what is considered as proper or not. In 2012, official tourist arrivals in Aceh accommodation reached 13,100 visitors of which Malaysia generated 8,000 visitors followed by Germany with 758 travellers.