goodmorningpapua.com – A number of citizens ride a motorboat in Yokiwa Village, East Sentani District, Jayapura Regency, Papua. Wednesday (15/6/2022). The local government plans to make the village located on the shores of Lake Sentani as an ecotourism pilot area in Papua.
Yokiwa is a village located in the East Sentani District, Jayapura Regency, Papua. This village is commonly referred to as a golden triangle area because it is located on the border of three regions, namely Jayapura Regency, Keerom Regency and Jayapura City.
In this village there is the Jaifuri River or in the Sentani language called Itafily Wie. This river is referred to as Napas Danau Sentani (NDS) since it is a river that connects Lake Sentani and the Tami River and the Pacific Ocean. Yokiwa village is inhabited by more than 116 families (KK) and 526 people. When we are on the back of Yokiwa Village, as far as the eye can see, the exotic view of Lake Sentani is presented while enjoying the sunset or the red twilight as the sun sinks into the lake.
In fact, according to Renaldy, the Jayapura Regency Government has made Yokiwa Village one of the leading tourism destinations in Papua. In addition to having a beautiful sunset, Yokiwa Village has the Jaifury River and is the only river downstream from Lake Sentani, so the Jaifury River regulates the balance of Lake Sentani’s water discharge.
The distance traveled by land from Yokiwa Village to Arso, Keerom Regency is only 8 kilometers, while to Yoka, Jayapura City it is about 20 kilometers. Visitors can also use a speedboat from Yokiwa Pier to Khalkote, Sentani by exploring Lake Sentani.
Renaldy explained that the potential natural resources (SDA) available in Yokiwa Village include freshwater fisheries, chicken and cattle farming, cacao cultivation, lake tourism, cooperatives and others. “The potential of this natural resource just needs to be managed to improve the local community’s economy,” he explained.
A head of the Tabi Papua Youth said that Yokiwa Village is one of the traditional-based villages launched by the Jayapura Regency Government. Thus, in this village, traditional values are still strong and highly prioritized.
Renaldy said, the large land in Yokiwa Village is a potential for livestock, so that in Yokiwa a chicken farm is developed. The farm is able to produce 30,000 eggs every day and is distributed to markets in Sentani, Arso and Abepura.
According to Renaldy, the tribes inhabiting Yokiwa Village are the Awoitauw Tribe, Fiobetauw Tribe, Mimitauw Tribe, Aufey Tribe, and Wahey Tribe. Yokiwa village and its neighbors are two sister villages with a land area of 300 hectares, the residents are given the opportunity to cultivate 2 hectares of land for each family head and the remaining land is used for cattle breeding locations.
In particular, the tourism potential in Yokiwa Village is extraordinary, especially with the existence of the Itafily or Jaifury River which is almost 30 kilometers long which ends at Muara Tami, Jayapura City.