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Tourism plan needed for Kinde Island, Flores' hidden gem
Kinde Island in East Nusa Tenggara has ample tourism attractions, such as a white sandy beach, marvelous underwater scenery and a mangrove forest.
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Its white sandy beach could draw tourists to Kinde Island in Nagekeo regency, North Flores, East Nusa Tenggara. (JP/Markus Makur)
The administration of Nagekeo regency in North Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, is trying hard to get the word out about Kinde Island.
Its white sandy beach makes the island a hidden gem in need of a promotional boost to lure tourists.
“I have started planting trees on the island a few years ago. Then I informed the Tourism Ministry that Kinde Island can be a pilot project for new destinations outside Komodo Island,” local priest Paulus Bongu told The Jakarta Post during a trip to the island in late June.
According to Paulus, despite the island's charm, only few local or foreign tourists visit the island.
“Usually, it is only visited by local fishermen, who rest there during sunset or sunrise,” he said.
Read also: Beach festival presents traditional dances of Flores' Nagekeo
Following Paulus’ suggestion to the ministry, a consultant team from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and a team from the ministry visited the island to study its tourism potential in June.
Gusti Yan Iwako, the head of the ITB team, said the island had many aspects that may attract tourists, along with the white sandy beach, such as its marvelous underwater scenery, mangroves as well as a trekking route to the highest point of the island.
“We will make a tourism plan that is appropriate for the island,” he said.
Gusti also suggested that the community around the island preserve the ancient traditions, rituals and practices to conserve Kinde's natural resources.
“Community-based tourism on Kinde Island ought to be supported by Wolowae residents, including preserving the mangrove forests at Kinde Beach and along the northern beaches of Flores Island,” he said. (gis/wng)
