Riau Florist, Air Terjun Selanca : Waterfall Natural Tourism Object in Rokan Hulu Riau - Air Terjun Selanca in Lubuk Bendahara, Rokan IV Koto District, Rokan Hulu Regency, has achieved recognition in the Riau Tourism Awards 2023, held at the end of January.
Air Terjun Selanca won the award for Best New Popular Tourist Destination in the annual ceremony. According to Irwan Harahap, the manager of Air Terjun Selanca, the site was established in 2020 and officially opened to the public in August of the same year.
"Selanca is a joint initiative of the Forest Farmer Group in Lubuk Bendahara Ujung Batu, aimed at preserving and managing the former Perhutani forest area for tourism purposes," said Irwan.
He further explained that they opened up a portion of the previously palm oil plantation-covered forest and transformed it into a waterfall tourist destination.
Irwan emphasized that Air Terjun Selanca still prioritizes the natural beauty of the surroundings without excessive exploitation.
"Selanca is not yet fully developed. Currently, we only have one attraction, which is a gentle waterfall and a pool where visitors can swim and enjoy nature," he elaborated.
To enter Air Terjun Selanca, visitors are required to pay a parking fee of IDR 5,000 for motorcycles and IDR 10,000 for cars. The entrance ticket prices are affordable, starting from IDR 20,000 for adults and IDR 10,000 for children.
Irwan also mentioned that Air Terjun Selanca is currently only open on Saturdays and Sundays, while weekdays are still closed.
Location : https://goo.gl/maps/MLwAt4gT9zEns3pz9?coh=178573&entry=tt
"We are only open on weekends because we understand that people are busy on weekdays. Additionally, we have to acknowledge that our facilities are still under development and progressing gradually," Irwan explained.
Separately, Gorneng, the Head of Rokan Hulu Tourism Office, highly appreciated Air Terjun Selanca's achievement as the Best New Popular Tourist Destination in the Riau Tourism Awards.
Gorneng stated that with proper tourism development, Rokan Hulu Regency can gain widespread recognition among the general public.
"We hope that all residents of Rohul can enjoy the natural-based tourism available in this Land of a Thousand Waterfalls," Gorneng expressed.
"In addition to generating local revenue, tourism destinations can also improve the welfare and economy of the surrounding communities and create more employment opportunities," he concluded.
Apart from Air Terjun Selanca, Rokan Hulu also boasts several other attractive tourist locations that are worth visiting.
These include hot spring baths like Cipogas and Hapanasan Hot Springs in the Rambah District, Aie Angek in Rokan IV Koto, as well as religious tourism sites such as the Islamic Center Rokan Hulu Grand Mosque Complex in Pasir Pengaraian.
Furthermore, there are natural attractions like Suligi Hill, Vila Hill in Tandun, as well as waterfalls like Batu Gajah and Aek Matua, among other nature-based tourist spots and scenic landscapes.
