Banyuwangi, E. Java (Antaranews Jatim) - Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said he wanted the Banyuwangi international airport to be developed with tourism concept to be in line with development of Banyuwangi tourism sector.
"This is in line with the development of the Banyuwangi tourism sector," the minister said here on Monday.
Arief Yahya said he strongly supports the expansion of the Banyuwangi airport into an international airport to support development of the district tourism sector.
He said Muhammad Awaluddin, the chief executive of state-owned PT Angkasa Pura II as the operator of the Banyuwangi airport , had told him how the Koh Samui airport of Thailand has been successful as a tourism international airport.
"I hope the Banyuwangi airport could take the Thai airport as an example," Arief, who attended a series of Ied ul Fitr tourist functions in the coastal city, said.
It happens that Banyuwangi Regent Abdullah Azwar Anas had from the beginning made Koh Samui as a benchmark, he added.
On June 13, 2018, the Minister held a meeting with Awaluddin and Regent Azwar Anas in the city in which Awaluddin spoke about the concept adopted in the development of the Koh Samui airport.
Koh Samui city administration succeeded in making its airport as a hub by cooperating with an airline as a strategic partner.
"Samui teams up with Bangkok Airways, which serves flights from and to the airport. Bangkok Airways made Samui a hub airport and the cooperation contributed to expansion of tourism industry in Koh Samui," Awaluddin said at the meeting.
Tourism Minister Arief said he would plan talks with a number of airlines to form synergy with the Banyuwangi airport.
"The strategy is we will offer international routes for airlines which are quite strong in domestic service. I and AP II would help find partner airlines," Arief said.
He said he was optimistic the plan could be a reality as the Banyuwangi airport has shown positive performance.
Based on data at AP II, aircraft arrivals outnumbered departures.
"This indicates stronger interest in coming to Banyuwangi. This also means Banyuwangi is a highly potential tourist destination," the Minister said.
Executive General Manager of the Banyuwangi airport Anton Marthalius said a two fold increase was recorded in air traffics last year.
Anton said this year, the number of flights would be increased from 16 to 20 flights a day including international flights.
Currently development of the infrastructure of the Banyuwangi airport is accelerated. The runway will made longer at 25,000 meters. Currently 2,250 meters have been completed. It will be expanded to 45 meters from 30 meters originally.
The apron will also be expanded to 41,000 sq. meters from 18,000 sq. meters at present to be able to accommodate 9 units of narrow bodied aircraft of Boeing 737 800- 900 and Airbus A320.
The entire work is to be completed early September, that Banyuwangi would be ready as a safe buffer airport when the IMF-World Bank meeting to be held in Bali in October this year.
The airport is expected to be busy serving aircraft carrying part of the delegates to the big meeting as Bali's Ngurah Rai airport alone may not be able to accommodate all the aircraft. (*)
Editor : Slamet Hadi Purnomo
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