Gov’t Supports Homestay Development in Priority Tourist Destinations

President Jokowi inspects the development project for residential facilities to support tourism areas in Kampung Baru, Marina Beach Area, Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, Friday (07/22). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Jay)

On the second day of his working visit to East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Friday (07/22) inspected the development project for residential facilities to support super-priority destinations (DPSP) in Labuan Bajo, which is located in Kampung Baru, the Marina Beach area, West Manggarai.

According to the President, the program of improving quality of self-help houses for homestays and village arrangements is expected to benefit surrounding communities.

“The arrangement of the Marina area is not only a matter of arranging the plaza and amphitheater, but also the village. The village arrangement will be directed so the existing houses can also benefit from tourism in Labuan Bajo,” the President said.

The President affirmed that the Government is committed to revamping several houses to be used as tourist lodges to improve community welfare in the surrounding area.

“The Central Government and regional governments will carry out house-by-house rehabilitation. Some of the houses will be transformed into kiosks, while others will be revamped to become homestays. That way, tourism in Labuan Bajo can bring benefits for small businesses, not only for large companies,” said the President.

On that occasion, the Head of State also highlighted the importance of maintaining the existing facilities.

“I urge Regent of West Manggarai and Governor of NTT to constantly pay attention to waste management, toilet maintenance, and carry out training for homestay tourism actors,” he said, adding that similar programs are also developed in other tourism areas to provide benefits to the surrounding community.

“The village arrangement already exists in several areas. We also developed the same project in Mandalika, then in Labuan Bajo, and later in Likupang. Thus, we involved all small businesses. We also involved local communities in Borobudur and Lake Toba. That means that those who can benefit are not only the big businesses,” the President remarked.

Concluding his visit, the President reminded local communities to maintain facilities and infrastructure as well as the buildings that have been renovated by the Central Government. (DND/UN) (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/UN) (RIF/MUR)