Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara, (Antara NTT) - Virgin Australia Transport plans to open a flight route between Australia and Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, to ease Australian tourists to visit the Indonesian eastern region.
"Our participation in Komodo Travel Mart 2017 is for collecting various information in connection with the plan to open Virgin Australia Transport flight service to NTT (E Nusa Tenggara)," manager of Virgin Australia for Indonesia Farshal Hsmbali said to newsmen here on Thursday.
He said the expansion of Virgin Australia Transport flight network to NTT was done because of the promising market opportunity.
"Virgin Australia Transport enters NTT because there are a lot of Australian tourists who wish to soend a holiday in NTT to make the region a very potential market fir us," he said.
The plan of the second biggest airline in Australia was revealed bu Faisal Hambali before the governor of NTT, Frans Lebu Raya, who was present at the press conference in connection with Komodo Travel Mart 2017 that wiuld be attended by tens of countries.
Hambali said the plan to open the route was still being studied by Virgin Australia Transport.
The opening of the Australia-Kupang route is believed to increase foreign tourists to the archipelago province.
"Australian tourists like to visit Bali, Lombok and NTT and so we have decided to open flight service to the region," Hambali said.
He said NTT community in Darwin would be the potential market base fir Virgin Australia Transport.
"During Christmas a lot of NTT people living in Australia choose to celebrate the event in NTT," he said.
He said while in Kuoang he would meet with officials fron Angkasa Pura (airport operator), Asita (tourism association) and NTT regional government in connection with the flght opening plan.
"We hope in 2018 the opening of Virgin Australia Transport flight service to NTT will have been settled," he said.
He said tourist objects like labuan Bajo in West Manggarai anf three color lake of Kelimutu in Ende are among the best top destinations for biditors from Australia.
Reported by Bennediktus Jahang
