President Jokowi: Labuan Bajo Tourism Development Will Boost Local Economy

President Jokowi asks participants to come forward in the distribution of land certificate, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara Province (NTT), Tuesday (21/1). (Photo by: PR / Anggun)

The designation of Labuan Bajo as a priority tourism area this year is expected to boost the growth of local economy, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has said.

“More tourists mean more money. Since the designation of Labuan Bajo as a top tourist destination, the local revenue has increased by up to 1,000 percent or ten folds compared to that in the previous years. Once the construction project of the tourist area development is finished, the revenue is expected to rise even higher,” President Jokowi said in East Nusa Tenggara province (NTT), Tuesday (21/2).

The President went on to say that large-scale hotels will be built in Labuan Bajo area and this is expected to increase demands for food supply produced by local farmers.

Those hotels will need food supplies, including vegetables and fruits produced by local farmers,” the President said, while encouraging the locals to brace themselves for a large number of tourists arrival.

“We should prepare everything, starting from refraining from littering and becoming more tourists-friendly,” President Jokowi said.

President Jokowi also explained that the Government has set a major renovation target in Labuan Bajo area, including the airport, roads and sidewalks, as well as the availability of clean water.

“The construction of raw water dam is expected to be completed immediately. We will also build a waste management system,” the President said, adding that the Government also plans to build a nursery garden to preserve the nature of Labuan Bajo.

“I will prepare five million tree seeds each year that we will plant together,” the President added.

According to President Jokowi, the construction of the Labuan Bajo Airport costs roughly Rp1.2 trillion, while the development project of Labuan Bajo area costs a total of Rp970 billion.

“We will see a massive transformation of Labuan Bajo,” he said. (UN/EN)

Translated by: Syarifah Aisyah
Reviewed by: Estu Widyamurti
Proofread by: M. Ersan Pamungkas