Joko Widodo's visits West Manggarai to encourage tourism development

Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo's visit to West Manggarai aims to encourage tourism development in the region to be truly good and classy, Head of Public Relations Secretariat of East Nusa Tenggara Marius Ardu Jelamu remarked.

"Every day, hundreds of international tourists from various countries enter Labuan Bajo, and the president's arrival aims to encourage ministries and institutions as well as to ensure tourism development in West Manggarai is really good and classy," Jelamu noted on Thursday.

Jelamu made the statement in connection with President Widodo's visit to West Manggarai, and the development plan of the area's tourism sector.

The former head of East Nusa Tenggara Province's Tourism and Creative Economy Office remarked that Labuan Bajo is one of the 10 national priority destinations.

"We know that Labuan Bajo is one of the 10 national priority destinations, and four out of the 10 are super-priority tourist destinations, specifically Labuan Bajo, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara, Lake Toba in North Sumatra, and Borobudur in Central Java," he stated.

"The super-priority destinations are encouraged to be developed in future, and one of the four super-priority destinations is Labuan Bajo," Jelamu noted.

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Speaking in connection with the president's agenda, he noted that on the second day of this visit, President Widodo had visited Rinca Island and possibly head to Komodo Island.

Rinca Island and Padar Island are the habitats of Komodo dragons.

Rinca Island along with Komodo and Padar Islands belong to the Komodo National Park areas managed by the Central Government. Rinca Island is located in the west of Flores Island, which is separated by the Molo Strait.

The island is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, as it belongs to the Komodo National Park area along with Komodo Island, Padar Island, and Gili Motang. The highest point of the island is on Doro (Mountain) Ora, located 670 meters above sea level.

This island is home to different species of animals, such as dragons, wild pigs, buffaloes, and birds. Rinca Island can be reached by a small boat from Labuan Bajo in western Flores.

Jelamu noted that the president's visit to Rinca Island aims to ensure that facilities and infrastructure will be built on the island.

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