President Jokowi Review MSMEs And Labuan Bajo Tourism Locations Ahead Of The ASEAN Summit

Indonesian President Joko Widodo carried his grandson La Lembah Manah while visiting the Batu Cermin Cave tourist location in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, Sunday (23/4/2023). BETWEEN/HO-Biro Press of the Presidential Secretariat

LABUAN BAJO - President Joko Widodo reviewed the readiness of MSME players and tourist sites in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, ahead of the 42nd ASEAN Summit which will be held there in less than three weeks. Jokowi arrived at Komodo Airport since last Saturday and immediately reviewed the facilities and infrastructure there. Jokowi also briefly visited several locations that needed to be beautified to welcome guests from ASEAN countries on their way from the airport to the hotel where they spent the night. Jokowi, who made a working visit accompanied by First Lady Iriana Jokowi, then visited several tourist sites on the second day in Labuan Bajo, Sunday, April 23. "President Jokowi had advised that all tourist destinations in Labuan Bajo could be promoted to the Heads of State/Heads of Government of ASEAN countries who would attend later," said Deputy for Protocol, Press and Media of the Presidential Secretariat Bey Machmudin. "So the President feels the need to visit several existing tourist attractions, in order to promote the beauty of Labuan Bajo in person and in detail," Bey said in a release received in Jakarta, Antara, Sunday night. On Sunday morning, at around 11.00 WITA, the President invited his family to visit Batu Cermin Cave. The two grandchildren of the President, Jan Ethes Srinarendra and La Lembah Manah, along with Gibran Rakabuming Raka and the wives of Selvi Ananda and Kaesang Pangarep and Erina Gudono's wife were seen. At the tourist location, President Jokowi and his family walked around to inspect the open area around the Batu Cermin Cave and stepped on the steps to the cave location. The President had time to pause at the steps with Ethes and Lembah while enjoying the scenery and talking for a moment. "Yes, I've seen everything," the President told his two grandchildren. From Batu Cermin Cave, the President and his family then walked to visit Batu Payung which was carried out at the request of Ethes. "Come on, Ethes asks Batu Payung," said the President. While conducting a review, the President also took the time to serve the request for a joint photo of the people who were traveling in the Batu Cermin Cave. In addition to traveling around tourist attractions, the President also visited a number of MSME outlets and bought souvenirs made by the people of NTT such as woven fabrics, bucket hats, and beach caps. "At the implementation of the ASEAN Summit later, the President hopes that MSME actors can present souvenirs with good quality and the characteristics of the area, so that guests from ASEAN countries will later be interested in buying these MSME products," said Bey. The 42nd ASEAN Summit is scheduled to take place in Labuan Bajo on 9-11 May 2023.

The Implementing Agency of the Labuan Bajo Authority Flores said that at least 1,156 rooms of the 22 hotels and resorts there had been prepared as a place to stay for delegates and the 42nd ASEAN Summit committee.