AIWW in Labuan Bajo, Manggarai is part of tourism promotion : Minister

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The 2nd Asia International Water Week (AIWW) in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai District, East Nusa Tenggara, is part of tourism promotion, Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Minister Basuki Hadimuljono stated.

"We chose Labuan Bajo as the host because all development work by the PUPR Ministry had been completed, and we wanted to partake in promoting Labuan Bajo," the PUPR minister noted in a written statement received here on Monday.

Indonesia is the host country of the 2nd AIWW that will be held in Labuan Bajo on March 14-16, 2022.

The AIWW is a triennial water gathering to report progress and formulate policy implementations in finding solutions to various water problems in Asia. The 2nd AIWW is organized by the Asia Water Council (AWC) in collaboration with the Indonesian government.

Labuan Bajo has been designated as part of the five Super Priority Tourist Destinations (DPSP) in Indonesia. The development conducted by the Ministry of PUPR is expected to increase productivity of the tourism sector, so that it can boost foreign exchange, create employment opportunities, and increase local economic growth.

The minister emphasized that the infrastructure that has been built should be kept clean.

"Keep it clean; that is the main aspect. I hope that what we have built is being taken care of. The community must also take care of its cleanliness," he stressed.

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The AIWW can serve as a discussion forum for the government, communities, and academics and to increase awareness on the water problem in Asia, especially Indonesia.

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The event is expected to be attended by 400 offline participants and one thousand online participants from 15 countries in Asia and member countries of the Asia Water Council. The 2nd AIWW event is held across several venues in Labuan Bajo under strict health protocols.