Thousand Island Park to launch research tourism

Mon, 07/06/2009 1:52 PM  |  City

JAKARTA: As a way to attract more tourists to the Thousand Islands Marine Park, the park operator plans to open a conserved islet to the public by next year.

The park head Djoko Prihatno said the opening of the islet, Penjaliran Timur, would give tourists, especially those who wanted to research ecosystems, more site options when visiting the islands.

"Some main islands, like Pramuka and Pulau Panggang, have been overpopulated and are difficult to develop further. So we have to offer a new place to visit for our tourists."

Djoko said the park will first build a research center facility and a port to facilitate the tourists who came to the islet.

The islet, located in the northern part of the 108,000-hectare park, is used to breed hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), one of the islands' endangered species.

To enter the islet, Djoko said the tourists had to obtain permission first from the park management.

"It will be one-day service, so they won't wait too long." - JP

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