Indonesia: Labuan Bajo, The Gate to Flores
By Cahaya Asia -
Located at the westernmost of Flores (the capital of West Manggarai Regency in East Nusa Tenggara) Labuan Bajo was formerly known as a fisherman village. Today, it is a tourism destination not less popular and exotic than Bali. Day by day, more tourists come to Labuan Bajo to see the giant lizard (Komodo), continue their trip to Kelimutu Lake and Maumere. Statistics reports 115% tourist arrival increase from 2005 to 2011. In addition to the three most popular tourism attractions, Labuhan Bajo offers Mirror Stone Cave, Lake Sano Nggoang, Caci dance, and many more cultural beauties.
"As Komodo National Park gets more popular, other tourism attractions in Labuan Bajo are expected to also become more widely-known and developed and East Manggarai people will benefit from this,” said Minister Mari Elka Pangestu at her work visit to Labuan Bajo, 20 July 2012.
The development of Labuan Bajo tourism cannot be separated from the development of Flores as a whole. Flores is one of the tourism development priorities in the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia Economic Development (MP3EI) Corridor 5, as a “Gateway for Tourism and National Food Support”. Flores is among the 16 tourism destination priorities with diving as one of its seven special interest tourisms to be developed.
The tourism development of Labuan Bajo in particular, and Flores in general, is carried out through the Destination Management Organization (DMO), a program run by Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy aiming at improving the quality and competitiveness of Indonesia tourism destinations. In its implementation, DMO involves tourism business, community leaders, education sector and all stakeholders to work together with local and central government. Flores DMO is divided into 8 Tourism Management Organization (TMO).
During her work visit to Labuan Bajo, Minister Mari Elka Pangestu witnessed the MoU signing between TMO of Labuan Bajo and the government of West Manggarai Regency to jointly develop Labuan Bajo as a world-class tourism destination. "The most important thing is the commitment of local government, central government, relevant agencies and all stakeholders regarding its implementation," said Mari.
Minister also spent time to visit the English language training in SMKN I Komodo organized by Mandiri Bank as part of its CSR program. "It is a very good program and it should be carried out as early as possible in order to prepare the needs and challenges of human resources competitive in hospitality industry for the next four or five years in Labuan Bajo," said Mari.(Center of Public Communication)
//budpar.go.id
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