Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (AntaraNews NTT) - Upgrading the Labuan Bajo airport into international airport would draw more foreign tourists to East Nusa Tenggara, a local official said.
Head of the Tourism Promotion Division of the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Tourism Service Eden Klakik said the government`s plan to upgrade the Komodo airport in Labuan Bajo, Flores, into an international airport would significantly contribute to increase the number of foreign tourists to the region.
Labuan Bajo is the main access to the Komodo island, the habitat of the ancient dragon locally called Komodo, which is not found in any other place in the world.
"When it has become an international airport, there would be direct flights from foreign countries to Labuan Bajo. It would facilitate foreign tourists," Eden said here on Friday. The government already has plan to upgrade the small airport of Labuan Bajo in the western end of Flores into an international airport.
The plan, however, is expected to be a reality only in 2019, Eden said, adding the Transport Ministry is still in the process of inviting bidders to expand and modernized the airport. Construction of the basic facilities for an international airport is expected to be comp0leted this year, he said.
Baca juga: ASITA strongly condemns raping of foreign tourist in Labuan Bajo
The facilities include navigation facility, hardening of the runway and repair of the apron. He said upgrading of airport into an international airport would greatly cut the cost of traveling to the Komodo island for tourists interested mainly on seeing the giant lizards.
"Currently tourists have to fly to Jakarta or Bali before reaching Labuan Bajo that would take much higher cost," he said. Labuan Bajo, the municipal town of the Manggarai Barat district of East Nusa Tenggara, is the main access for tourists to the Komodo National Park on the Komdo island, which is one of world`s seven wonders of nature.
Earlier, head of the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) tourism office Marius Ardu Jelamu said expansion and modernization of the Labuan Bajo airport is a top priority of the government to facilitate direct international flights.
The island of Komodo is one of 10 tourist destinations to be developed by the government to facilitate tourists, Marius said. In developing 10 tourists destination, direct international flight is the main agenda for the government, he added.
Marius said the government wants to develop international airport in each of major tourist destination. "The Silangit international airport in Tapanuli, North Sumatra was built to facilitate tourists to Lake Toba which is one of the 10 major tourist destinations," he cited.
He said international flights to NTT have to wait until the expansion of the Labuan Bajo airport has been completed. "After the completion of the airport many foreign tourists are expected to come from China, Japan, Australia, and other countries to the Komodo island," he said.
Baca juga: Labuan Bajo top priority in tourism development projects
Head of the Tourism Promotion Division of the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Tourism Service Eden Klakik said the government`s plan to upgrade the Komodo airport in Labuan Bajo, Flores, into an international airport would significantly contribute to increase the number of foreign tourists to the region.
Labuan Bajo is the main access to the Komodo island, the habitat of the ancient dragon locally called Komodo, which is not found in any other place in the world.
"When it has become an international airport, there would be direct flights from foreign countries to Labuan Bajo. It would facilitate foreign tourists," Eden said here on Friday. The government already has plan to upgrade the small airport of Labuan Bajo in the western end of Flores into an international airport.
The plan, however, is expected to be a reality only in 2019, Eden said, adding the Transport Ministry is still in the process of inviting bidders to expand and modernized the airport. Construction of the basic facilities for an international airport is expected to be comp0leted this year, he said.
Baca juga: ASITA strongly condemns raping of foreign tourist in Labuan Bajo
The facilities include navigation facility, hardening of the runway and repair of the apron. He said upgrading of airport into an international airport would greatly cut the cost of traveling to the Komodo island for tourists interested mainly on seeing the giant lizards.
"Currently tourists have to fly to Jakarta or Bali before reaching Labuan Bajo that would take much higher cost," he said. Labuan Bajo, the municipal town of the Manggarai Barat district of East Nusa Tenggara, is the main access for tourists to the Komodo National Park on the Komdo island, which is one of world`s seven wonders of nature.
Earlier, head of the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) tourism office Marius Ardu Jelamu said expansion and modernization of the Labuan Bajo airport is a top priority of the government to facilitate direct international flights.
The island of Komodo is one of 10 tourist destinations to be developed by the government to facilitate tourists, Marius said. In developing 10 tourists destination, direct international flight is the main agenda for the government, he added.
Marius said the government wants to develop international airport in each of major tourist destination. "The Silangit international airport in Tapanuli, North Sumatra was built to facilitate tourists to Lake Toba which is one of the 10 major tourist destinations," he cited.
He said international flights to NTT have to wait until the expansion of the Labuan Bajo airport has been completed. "After the completion of the airport many foreign tourists are expected to come from China, Japan, Australia, and other countries to the Komodo island," he said.
Baca juga: Labuan Bajo top priority in tourism development projects