THE SURROUNDING ATMOSPHERE in the Hall of the North Aceh Regent's Office in Landing suddenly quieted down when the presenters, Muhammad Hatta and Sella Azkia announced the Top 3 Agam and Inong (Man and Woman) North Aceh Tourism Ambassadors 2023. The audience, especially the families and supporters of the candidates who were in the Top 3 for Agam and Inong, looks tensed. The tension increased because Hatta and Sella increased the audience's curiosity by cutting off their sentences when the audience was seriously waiting.

The Top 3 Agam who were in the front row of the stage were Daniel Khumaidi, Nahlil Mukta and Riamizard. While the Inong Top 3 are Cut Tara Nazilla, Dara Ismadana, and Jihan Fanyra. Agam Inong Aceh Utara 2022, Syahrul Raziqin and Cut Dinda Salsabila, walk gracefully between the Top 3 with black sash in hand. They circled between the agam and the inong before stopping.

In contrast to 2022, the religious election will take place first. Even though the music at a maintained volume from a clear sound system filled the entire room, the tension was palpable. Daniel Khumaidi and Riamizard seemed to be trying to ease the tension by smiling. Behind them, Syahrul Raziqin waited for Hatta to announce the 2023 North Aceh Tourism Ambassador Agam. The black sash was then pinned by Syahrul on Riamizard's body.

There was no exaggerated expression from Riamizard. The Malikussaleh University Law Faculty student only expressed his gratitude and smiled broadly. Then he was busy receiving plaques, certificates and gifts from sponsors. Meanwhile, Daniel, a Lhokseumawe State Polytechnic student, withdrew from mingling with the other finalists.

Similar tension was also seen when choosing Inong Tourism Ambassadors. Cut Dinda Salsabila, alumni of the Malikussaleh University Communication Studies Study Program, looks calm behind Dara Ismadana and Cut Tara Nazilla. The two Inong Tourism Ambassador candidates were tense while waiting for Sella to finish her sentence.

As former finalists for Agam and Inong Aceh Utara, Hatta and Sella seemed to quite understand the situation the participants were in so they freely stirred up the feelings of all those present. When you hold the decision letter, only the host and the jury know who the winner is.

As a symbol of friendship, Dara Ismadana and Cut Tara Nazilla hold each other and smile. Their gestures and expressions show sincerity, willing to win and willing to lose. And when Cut Dinda Salsabila pinned the sash on Dara Ismadana's body, Cut Tara Nazilla backed off with the same gesture.

The election of Riamizard and Dara Ismadana as Religious and Inong North Aceh Tourism Ambassadors 2023 ended the stages of the election. Head of Youth, Sports and Tourism Office of North Aceh Regency Saifuddin, MSP said that this year they are proactive in conducting outreach to various schools and campuses in Lhokseumawe and North Aceh to capture the potential of the younger generation.

"Participants boomed to 80 people. We hope that next year there will be more participants so that they will actually be elected as tourism ambassadors who can make North Aceh proud at the provincial and even national level," said Saifuddin who was accompanied by the Chairperson of the 2023 North Aceh Tourism Ambassador & Religious Committee, Umar Ali S.Sos. , MAP.

The Regional Secretary of North Aceh Regency, Dr. A. Murtala, hopes that the selected Tourism Ambassadors will really master the leading destinations in North Aceh. In addition, they must have insight into the concept of halal tourism and intelligence so they can perform brilliantly at the provincial level.

"For all finalists, they must participate in promoting tourism in North Aceh," said Murtala who also asked questions for the finalists.

As second place, Daniel Khumaidi and Cut Tara Nazilla became Deputy I, Nahlil Mukta and Jihan Fanyra as Deputy II, Agam Raihan and Cut Nada Adelyana as Deputy III, Muhammad Fauzul Shalis and Sanidia as Waki; IV, as well as Muhammad Hafaz Bunayya and Tengku Salsabila as Deputy V.

In addition, the jury also chose Teuku Firja Hidayatullah and Febriana Mariska as the winners for the Intelligence category, the Talent category for Zulfikar and Nasyifa Darajatun Jannah, the Creative Economy category for Muhammad Fauzan and Cut Intan, and the Creative category for M. Raihan Al Ma'ruf and Fera Amelia.

The jury consisting of Zulkarnaini Hasan M.Sc from Lhokseumawe State Polytechnic, Ayi Jufridar MSM from Malikussaleh University, Hasrul Aziz (alumni tourism ambassador), Nida Ulfia Hamid (psychologist), and Ustaz Muhaddis SH, MH, must choose Agam Inong carefully. North Aceh Tourism Ambassador 2023. And this election is admittedly very difficult, especially for religion.

“There are participants who are broad-minded, but less qualified in posture. Vice versa. Each participant has advantages and disadvantages. We are looking for champions who fit the criteria in the province," said Zulkarnaini who is also head of the Department of Commerce at the Lhokseumawe State Polytechnic.[]

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Perjuangan Agam Inong Mengangkat Dunia Kepariwisataan

SUASANA riuh di Aula Kantor Bupati Aceh Utara di Landing mendadak senyap ketika pembawa acara, Muhammad Hatta dan Sella Azkia mengumumkan Top 3 Agam dan Inong Duta Wisata Aceh Utara 2023. Para hadirin, terutama keluarga dan pendukung calon yang masuk Top 3 untuk Agam dan Inong, terlihat tegang. Ketegangan itu bertambah karena Hatta dan Sella menambah rasa penasaran hadirin dengan memotong kalimatnya ketika hadirin sedang serius menunggu.

Agam Top 3 yang berada di barisan depan panggung adalah Daniel Khumaidi, Nahlil Mukta, dan Riamizard. Sedangkan Inong Top 3 adalah Cut Tara Nazilla, Dara Ismadana, dan Jihan Fanyra. Agam Inong Aceh Utara 2022, Syahrul Raziqin dan Cut Dinda Salsabila, berjalan anggun di antara Top 3 dengan selempang hitam di tangan. Mereka berputar-putar di antara agam dan inong, sebelum kemudian berhenti.

Berbeda dengan 2022, pemilihan agam lebih dulu dilakukan. Meski musik dengan volume terjaga dari sound system jernih memenuhi seluruh ruangan, ketegangan sangat terasa. Daniel Khumaidi dan Riamizard tampak mencoba meredakan ketegangan dengan tersenyum. Di belakang mereka, Syahrul Raziqin menunggu Hatta mengumumkan Agam Duta Wisata Aceh Utara 2023. Selempang hitam itu kemudian disematkan Syahrul di tubuh Riamizard.

Tidak ada ekspresi berlebihan dari Riamizard. Mahasiswa Fakultas Hukum Universitas Malikussaleh tersebut hanya mengucapkan syukur dan tersenyum lebar. Kemudian dia sibuk menerima plakat, sertifikat, dan hadiah dari sponsor. Sementara Daniel, mahasiswa Politeknik Negeri Lhokseumawe, mundur berbaur dengan finalis lainnya.

Ketegangan serupa juga terlihat ketika pemilih Inong Duta Wisata. Cut Dinda Salsabila, alumni Prodi Ilmu Komunikasi Universitas Malikussaleh, tampak tenang di belakang Dara Ismadana dan Cut Tara Nazilla. Kedua calon Inong Duta Wisata itu yang justru tegang menunggu Sella menyelesaikan kalimatnya.

Sebagai mantan finalis Agam dan Inong Aceh Utara, Hatta dan Sella sepertinya cukup paham suasana yang dihadapi peserta sehingga mereka dengan leluasa mengaduk-aduk perasaan semua hadirin. Ketika sudah memegang surat keputusan, hanya pembawa acara dan dewan juri yang mengetahui siapa pemenang.

Sebagai simbol persahabatan, Dara Ismadana dan Cut Tara Nazilla saling berpegangan sambil tersenyum. Sikap tubuh dan ekspresi mereka menunjukkan keikhlasan, ikhlas menang dan ikhlas kalah. Dan ketika Cut Dinda Salsabila menyematkan selempang di tubuh Dara Ismadana, Cut Tara Nazilla mundur dengan gestur sama.

Terpilihnya Riamizard dan Dara Ismadana sebagai Agam dan Inong Duta Wisata Aceh Utara 2023 mengakhiri tahapan demi tahapan pemilihan. Kepala Dinas Kepemudaan, Olahraga, dan Pariwisata Kabupaten Aceh Utara Saifuddin, MSP menyebutkan tahun ini mereka proaktif melakukan sosialisasi ke berbagai sekolah dan kampus di Lhokseumawe dan Aceh Utara untuk menjaring potensi generasi muda.

“Peserta membludak sampai 80-an orang. Kami harapkan, tahun depan lebih banyak peserta yang ikut agar benar-benar terpilih duta wisata yang mampu mengharumkan nama Aceh Utara di tingkat provinsi bahkan nasional,” ujar Saifuddin yang didampingi Ketua Panitia Agam & Inong Duta Wisata Aceh Utara 2023, Umar Ali S.Sos, MAP.

Sekretaris Daerah Kabupaten Aceh Utara, Dr A.Murtala, mengharapkan Duta Wisata yang terpilih benar-benar menguasai destinasi unggulan di Aceh Utara. Selain itu, harus memiliki wawasan tentang konsep wisata halal dan kecerdasan agar bisa tampil gemilang di tingkat provinsi.
“Bagi semua finalis, harus ikut mempromosikan kepariwisataan di Aceh Utara,” ujar Murtala yang juga memberikan pertanyaan bagi finalis.

Sebagai juara dua, Daniel Khumaidi dan Cut Tara Nazilla menjadi Wakil I, Nahlil Mukta dan Jihan Fanyra sebagai Wakil II, Agam Raihan dan Cut Nada Adelyana sebagai Wakil III, Muhammad Fauzul Shalis dan Sanidia sebagai Waki; IV, serta Muhammad Hafaz Bunayya dan Tengku Salsabila sebagai Wakil V.

Selain itu, dewan juri juga memilih Teuku Firja Hidayatullah dan Febriana Mariska sebagai juara kategori Intelegensia, kategori Berbakat untuk Zulfikar dan Nasyifa Darajatun Jannah, kategori Ekonomi Kreatif diraih Muhammad Fauzan dan Cut Intan, serta kategori Kreatif untuk M. Raihan Al Ma’ruf dan Fera Amelia.

Dewan juri yang terdiri dari Zulkarnaini Hasan M.Si dari Politeknik Negeri Lhokseumawe, Ayi Jufridar MSM dari Universitas Malikussaleh, Hasrul Aziz (alumni duta wisata), Nida Ulfia Hamid (psikolog), serta Ustaz Muhaddis SH, MH, harus memilih dengan jeli Agam Inong Duta Wisata Aceh Utara 2023. Dan pemilihan kali ini diakui sangat sulit, terutama untuk agam.

“Ada peserta yang berwawasan luas, tetapi kurang memenuhi syarat dalam postur. Begitu juga sebaliknya. Setiap peserta memiliki kelebihan dan kekurangan. Kami mencari juara yang sesuai dengan kriteria di provinsi,” ungkap Zulkarnaini yang juga ketua Jurusan Tata Niaga di Politeknik Negeri Lhokseumawe.[]