Indonesia to Hold Raja Ampat Sail Event in 2014: Minister

Labuhan Bajo, E Nusa Tenggara (Antara) - Coordinating People's Welfare Minister Agung Laksono has announced that Indonesia will host the next sail event in Raja Ampat, Papua Province, in 2014. "We plan to host the next Sail event in Raja Ampat of Papua to boost local economic development and to promote (Papua as a) tourism destination in Indonesia," stated Laksono, who is also the chairman of Komodo Sail 2013, here on Saturday. He noted that the sail event in Labuan Bajo of E Nusa Tenggara this year was the result of Development Acceleration efforts, which address the development of integrated agriculture, fisheries and marine resources, tourism, and Indonesia's infrastructure, as well as the need for a new resident management. He believed the ongoing sail event in Labuan Bajo is an appropriate response to the points raised in Corridor V of the Master Plan for Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesian Economic Development (MP3EI), which focuses on the development of the tourism industry. "The purpose of the Indonesia Sail event is to empower people who can take advantage of the entrepreneurship training. They can develop the country's image as a tourism destination with the sale of souvenirs and the provision of guided tours and accommodation facilities," he remarked. Meanwhile, the Minister of Maritime and Fisheries Affairs Sharif C. Sutardjo confirmed his support for the development of marine tourism through the Indonesia Sail event. "We need to evaluate the Indonesia Sail event's potential benefit to the people, so we can later develop those areas of the tourism industry," Sutardjo said. He claimed the Indonesia Sail event should become an international event that boosts the region's economy, especially through the marine tourism sector. "Indonesia Sail should provide the necessary momentum to develop marine tourism in Indonesia and make it a world-class tourism destination," Sutardjo added.(*)