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Southeast Maluku holds Meti Kei Charm Festival 2017
“The Ngurbloat white sand beach was once nominated by National Geographic magazine. Tanimbar Kei village also offers plenty of interesting cultures which can be seen in its architecture, custom and belief,” said Ukus in his speech at the closing event of FPMK 2017.
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Bair Island in Southeast Maluku is a feast for the eyes with its clear waters and beautiful lagoons. (JP/P.J. Leo)
T
ourism ministry’s secretary Ukus Kuswara attended the Meti Kei Charm Festival (FPMK) 2017 that was held on Oct. 19 – 22 in Southeast Maluku.
“The Ngurbloat white sand beach was once nominated by National Geographic magazine. Tanimbar Kei village also offers plenty of interesting cultures which can be seen in its architecture, custom and belief,” said Ukus in his speech at the closing event of FPMK 2017.
“In 2016, the total revenue from the tourism sector was the second highest with 13.568 billion dollars, right below the revenue of crude palm oil with 15.965 billion dollars. The oil and gas sector went down to the third spot because its commodity value has been decreasing in the past few years,” Ukus added.
Ukus predicted that in the next two years, the foreign exchange from tourism will dominate the market. In the past three years, the tourism sector has been gaining plenty of achievements, one of them is the percentage number of overseas tourist visits for the January – August 2017 period that is at 25.68 percent.
“The number is higher than the tourism growth rate in ASEAN that’s at seven percent and the global growth rate that is at six percent,” Ukus said.
Read also: Charming Southeast Maluku attracts more tourists
Ukus also discussed the tourist attractions in Southeast Maluku that need improvement as well as its accessibility and accommodation. Currently, there are three airlines that serve the Ambon – Langgur route using four flights. Hotels and resorts are also available in Southeast Maluku.
FPMK 2017 is a national event that was initiated by the Southeast Maluku regional administration together with tourism ministry, Maluku province, Kei tourism promotion department, locals and GenPi Kei.
The festival was opened with a cultural carnival that was joined by 102 participants. The starting point of this carnival was at Lodar El Kota Tual Field and finished at Langgur Market area.
Traditional fishing was also one of the activities at the festival, it was held on the second day in Yafafun Abean village. The locals have their own unique way of catching the fish, they use a rope tied with coconut leaves. When the sea level begins to drop, they will steer the rope to the mainland to guide the trapped fish.
Apart from using a rope, sometimes the locals also use traditional tools such as kalewang (fish spear), bow and sarut that is made of rumbia leaves.
Other activities include Dayung Belan inter-Ratschap (an area consisting of several villages and lead by a king) competition and 10-kilometer run that was joined by 600 participants. (asw)
