THE Indonesian government plans to set up 200 tourism villages in West Manggarai to support Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara, as it is promoted as one of five super priority destinations in the country.
Tourism and Creative Economy Minister, Sandiaga Uno, said a tourism village can help empower people economically, according to the Antara News portal.
He said such villages help create jobs and opportunities for the local populace, but they need to be ready to shoulder the task as super priority destinations when the pandemic ends.
Sandiaga made an official two day visit to Labuan Bajo last week and saw some potential that can be developed in the future.
"When I arrived in Pasir Panjang village in Rinca Island (for instance), I watched the Komodo dance by Animal Pop (a local dance group), which is an icon for the village. That may help boost its potential for tourism," he said.
Labuan Bajo is seen as a gateway to the world famous Komodo National Park.
Sandiaga also said the area can be a hub for the creative industries in the province.
"As we can see, development of the creative hub in Puncak Waringin is nearly 100-per cent complete. We need more investment, and I urge the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to work jointly to increase the number of hotels and restaurants to serve domestic and foreign tourists," he said.
The ministry is working closely with the local government and the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry to develop Labuan Bajo as it is being prepared as a super priority destination.
"In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, we must ensure that tourist destinations will not only be ready in terms of infrastructure but also interconnectivity, creative economy products, services, and calendar of events," he emphasised.
Meanwhile, Director of the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority Agency (BOPLBF) Shana Fatina revealed 160,237 tourists had visited Labuan Bajo in 2019.
"We are striving to increase the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) of tourist destinations under coordination of the BOPLBF. Labuan Bajo is a tourist destination aligning with the ecotourism concept that offers authenticity, natural resources, and local culture," Fatina said.