President Jokowi Affirms Labuan Bajo Tourism For The Welfare Of The People Of NTT

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said the growth of tourist visits to Labuan Bajo after the construction of a number of infrastructures should contribute to improving the welfare of the people of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

"I hope that with the addition of tourists, both foreign and domestic, Labuan Bajo will become more well-known and most importantly the welfare of the people, especially the people of NTT," said President Jokowi when inaugurating the expansion of Komodo Airport Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, NTT, Thursday, July 21, as quoted from the impressions of the Presidential Secretariat.

The President said that the tourist charm of Labuan Bajo is complete. The tourist destinations, said the President, already have adequate road access, ports, various tourist destinations, to attractions that do not exist anywhere in the world, namely the presence of Komodo dragons.

"Labuan Bajo is complete, the culture is there, the scenery is very good, the beaches are beautiful, and in a world that doesn't exist, doesn't exist anywhere else, it exists, namely the Komodo dragons on Komodo Island and Rinca Island," he said.

"We must use this power to prosper the people here," the President added.

Therefore, the President said, the government will continue to improve facilities and infrastructure in Labuan Bajo. The infrastructure, among others, is the improvement of Komodo Airport so that it becomes a means of connectivity that is able to attract foreign tourist visits.

"The Minister of Transportation said earlier, the runway is still lacking. If you add 100 meters, wide body (wide-body aircraft) can enter, yes, add it. If it can't be done this year, it will have to be completed next year. Airplanes with direct flights from abroad can immediately disembark in Labuan Bajo," said President Jokowi. Also accompanying the President in the inauguration were Mrs. Iriana Joko Widodo. A number of ministers also attended the inauguration of the Komodo Labuan Bajo Airport expansion, namely Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, and Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, as well as regional head Governor of NTT Viktor Laiskodat.