Indonesia to make Labuan Bajo super premium tourist destination

LABUAN BAJO, Jan 20, 2020, ANTARA. President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) led a limited meeting with ministers, heads of agencies, and regional officials at a hotel in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, Monday, to prepare it as a super premium tourist destination, ANTARA reported.

“Development of the super premium destination Labuan Bajo will likely have begun since the beginning of the year,” Jokowi remarked while addressing some ministers, including Tourism Minister Wishnutama, SOEs Minister Erick Thohir, and Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya.

At the meeting, Jokowi highlighted several points linked to the development of Labuan Bajo, the first being how to organize the region since the government is eyeing it to be segmented on tourists spending higher than average.

“That is why we need to integrate some facilities here, especially related to hygiene, safety, and comfort, for tourists to stay,” Jokowi noted while emphasizing the need to build more hotels in Labuan Bajo.

Jokowi spoke of some five zones that should be prioritized for this development: Bukit Pramuka, Bukit Air, container port as well as passenger dock, Marina, and Kampung Ujung.

The president stressed on the integration of all five zones, as they are prepared to be an integrated public area. “Thus, we are going to present a beautiful landscaping, expected to be such an ‘engine’ that encourages people’s activities in Labuan Bajo,” he stated.

Furthermore, more infrastructure development is required at the local airport, Komodo Airport, including the runway and terminal.

Jokowi had also commanded related officials to prepare human resources, local arts and cultures, as well as the resolution for land disputes, vessels registration, waste management, international-level events as promotion, and safety assurance for tourists.