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Better organized tourism needed, says association
The West Manggarai regency capital of Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) serves as the gateway to Komodo National Park and various other beautiful natural resorts located in mountainous areas and several islands
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he West Manggarai regency capital of Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) serves as the gateway to Komodo National Park and various other beautiful natural resorts located in mountainous areas and several islands.
The underwater beauty and excellent panorama of Labuan Bajo has attracted both tourists and investors.
The marketing director of event organizer Flobamora Events, Amos Lillo, said his firm would organize the Komodo Travel Mart after the 2013 Sail Komodo event for buyers and tour operators from Bandung, Jakarta, Lombok, Makassar, East Java and Bali.
Lillo said the Sail Komodo event had improved infrastructure significantly across NTT, which was dubbed 'the hidden beauty', he added.
The central government has also paid more attention to social issues, including healthcare and education.
'That's why we're following up the 2013 Sail Komodo event by organizing the Komodo Travel Mart, which is fully supported by the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry,' he told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
Indonesia Marine Tourism Entrepreneurs Association chairman Feisol Hashim said the 2013 Sail Komodo event was like any other and all stakeholders should consider what they could do post-event as thousands of visitors returned to their respective countries and left behind trash in the city and nearby waters.
'The industry that reaches the roots of the community is tourism, so the administration, legislature, members of the community and the private sector in West Manggarai in particular and Indonesia in general must work together to develop tourism that can raise people's welfare,' he told the Post
on Monday.
According to Hashim, tourism on Flores Island should be organized well, be it adventure, religious or ecotourism, so it would grow significantly.
'Tourism is being developed jointly between outside parties and the local community,' he said.
Hashim added 2013 Sail Komodo was very positive in marketing the spectacular Komodo dragon that is known globally.
Other positive impacts include expedited road construction in Labuan Bajo, clean water and good waste management.
'Tourism development in West Manggarai should be eco-friendly, failing means tourism would no longer provide positive value,' he added.
