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East Nusa Tenggara up and ready to boost tourism potential
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Horses seen on a savanna in Sumba's northern coastal area, East Nusa Tenggara. (JP/Tarko Sudiarno)
T
he Tourism Ministry is giving their full support to the provincial administration of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) to boost its tourism potential.
Speaking at the launch of the NTT Province Tourism Event 2017 on Friday, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said there were two tourist destinations that NTT is famous for, namely Ende city, which served as the exile location of the country’s first president Sukarno, and Labuan Bajo.
The government is currently working to improve access to Ende, such as extending the runway of H. Hasan Aroeboesman Airport in Ende to allow a Boeing 737 aircraft to land.
“For accommodation, we are building homestays in 10 tourist villages of Ende,” said Arief.
Read also: Visiting Lapopu, the highest waterfall in East Nusa Tenggara
As for Labuan Bajo, beginning July this year the town will have its own Tourism Authority Board (BOP). A marina is also set to be built in Labuan Bajo and is targeted to be fully operational by August 2018.
Meanwhile, the Komodo Airport will become an international airport, managed by state-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I. There will also be additional 400 homestays located in the region's tourist villages.
As for human resources, the Tourism Ministry together with the Research, Technology and Higher Education Ministry and provincial administrations (Pemda) have decided to open a Tourism Community Academy in West Manggarai regency.
For this year alone, there are plenty of interesting events to look forward to in NTT, including Sandalwood Festival, Tenun Ikat (woven fabric) Sumba Festival, Pesona Kebangsaan (the Soekarno Month) Parade and Tour de Timor. (kes)
