Eco-Tourism with Palm Oil Plantation

"The Muslims are syirkah (shariah business cooperation) in three ways, in terms of grasslands (land), water and fire (energy)". (Hadith narrated by Sunan Abu Daud)

Food, energy and water (FEW) is a matter of essential material for human life. The next generation and children must be introduced and understood about this. Among the many subjects taught in school, the topic of discussion about FEW must also receive an adequate portion. At the macro level, we witness that a country and nation will not be independent and sovereign if they are unable to be independent and sovereign in the affairs of the FEW. By introducing it from the beginning, the true understanding of FEW will be embedded both for human biological life and for its strategic role in the world arena.

Indonesia is the largest palm oil producer in the world with the plantation area more than 12 million hectares, palm oil production (both CPO and PKO) reaching more than 40 million tons / year with more than 1,000 CPO mills. As an effort to inculcate FEW's understanding, palm oil plantations can be used as educational facilities which are packaged into eco-tourism for palm oil plantations. Palm oil producer regions can make eco-tourism. The location of palm oil plantations that are easy to access, high in productivity, well cared for, the scenery is beautiful maybe with the presence of lakes, water fall and so on and equipped with various facilities and infrastructure to support the excellent development of eco-tourism.

Students in non-palm oil production areas, such as in Java, Madura, Bali and Nusa Tenggara, are still many who do not know about palm oil trees, although every day they eat fried foods using palm oil. Whereas in most of these areas the majority of Indonesia's population is located or densely populated areas. If children and the next generation do not know the potential of their country, of course this is very unfortunate. It is hoped that by visiting the eco-tourism of palm oil plantations, students and future generations will become more open-minded and more concerned about maximizing it. With visits to these tourism objects, they can see how palm oil is planted, maintained until it continues to be able to produce and still pay attention to environmental aspects to industrialization and provide benefits so that it becomes a profession of choice for some people and contributes to the country.

The palm oil plantation eco-tourism is also a medium to fight against the palm oil black campaign which is currently mostly carried out by western countries. In addition, the promotion of palm oil can also be done in these tourism objects. In addition to domestic tourists, especially students, these attractions can also attract tourists from overseas. With good tourism management, the expected goals can be achieved. Currently halal tourism (Halal Tourism / Islamic Tourism) has also begun to be promoted, and environmentally friendly tourism of palm oil plantations can become part of halal tourism. Islamic-based tourism management is not only limited to material worldly goals, but also gives blessings and blessings from Allah SWT which has an afterlife (akhirat) dimension.