Gov’t to Expand Capacity of Labuan Bajo Airport
President Jokowi, accompanied by officials, visits Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, Wednesday (10/7). (Photo by: Rahmat/PR)
The Government has announced it will speed up the expansion project of Labuan Bajo airport in East Nusa Tenggara province.
“We will expand capacity of the terminals (of Komodo airport in Labuan Bajo) and extend the runways. (The development) will be completed not later than next year,” President Jokowi told reporters during his two-day working visit to Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Wednesday (10/7).
The Government wants those in charge of airport management has an international tourism network to increase foreign exchange.
“We want to pursue a different segmentation from the Manado (project). We pursue a premium market here,” the President stated.
During the visit to the province this time, President Jokowi also inspected a number of infrastructure project that sustains Labuan Bajo Special Tourism Zone.
As part of the Governments plan to promote new tourist destinations dubbed as 10 New Bali, the Government has re-developed Puncak Waringin area in Labuan Bajo, Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT).
According to the President, rights of management of the areas, especially the airport management, will be auctioned off.
Therefore, President Jokowi considers that redevelopment in Labuan Bajo is critical.
“This year, we will build sidewalks here (Puncak Waringin area), so that the tourist can take a walk while enjoying the scenery,” he said, adding that the port for containers will be moved to another place, so that the Port of Labuan Bajo can focus only on passengers, Phinisi boats, yachts, and cruises.
President Jokowo added that the Government also has to address water shortages and road infrastructure and the area that belongs to the Regional Government will also be transformed into a handicraft center of Labuan Bajo.
“This is a total redevelopment,” the President said.
adding that the port for containers will also be relocated to another place so Port of Labuan Bajo can focus only on passengers, Phinisi boats, yachts, and cruises.
President Jokowi also visited Integrated Port Development project. According to Director of PT ASDP Integrated Port of Labuan Bajo Ira Puspadewi, the project is integrated with the Integrated Labuan Bajo Marina Area which consists of hotels, marinas, and commercial areas. ”
With this development, we have to move the dock area,” she said during a presentation.
In the future, Ira added, there will be 180 hotel rooms that are targeted for completion in December 2019. The yachts can also dock right in front of the marina which its construction is expected to be completed in June 2020, she said.
“The concept of the hotel is open space and without a fence, so people can still enter the beach freely. In this area, we will also build a promenade, a place where people can display cultures. There will also be a kind of public market which will be held periodically,” Ira stated. (DND/RAH/ES)
Translated by : Fairuzzamani Inayatillah
Edited by : Ridwan Ibadurrohman, M. Ersan Pamungkas
