Pariaman

Pariaman – A Model for sustainability

It may no longer be the same important Minangkabau trading port it once was several hundred years back, but that doesn't mean it can never regain its past glory. It's just that glory these days means something different. In the case of West Sumatra's coastal city of Pariaman, its modern reputation is that of being viewed as a municipal model for sustainability. Most recently, it won a UI Green City Metric award for being the fifth most sustainable city in the country behind Blitar, Madiun, Surabaya and Kediri. Pariaman has made use of various programs designed to maximize its sustainability, including the use of ecologically-based city planning efforts throughout its 73.36 square kilometer city limits.

Pariaman has also integrated its best sustainability practices into its tourism industry to support its population of 97,210. The Pariaman Mangrove Park promotes ecotourism, and the city's famous turtle hatchery is beloved by international tourists. Visitors can enjoy an abundance of beaches—Gandoriah, Kata, Pasir Lohong, Cermin, Belibis, and Penyu—which is why the city is often nicknamed "Beach City." Despite being predominantly Sunni Muslim, the city holds an annual Shiite Islamic Tabuik ceremony to commemorate the mourning of Muharram. If you visit during the first month of the Islamic calendar, you can witness locals carrying effigies of Muhammad's grandsons to the sea.

Economically, the city has grown 3.53 percent, 4.55 percent, and 4.79 percent from 2021 to 2022 to 2023, respectively. Its Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) at current prices amounted to Rp 6.44 trillion in 2023, an increase from Rp 5.88 trillion in 2022. The largest portion of this GRDP came from the agriculture, forestry, and fishing industry, at Rp 1.14 trillion (17.67 percent of all industries), followed by the wholesale and retail trade industry at Rp 995 billion (15.47 percent), and the construction industry at Rp 979 billion (15.21 percent).