The Kelimutu Lake Festival to Encourage Tourism Development in Ende

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Oleh Siti Chodijah, Rabu, 28 Agustus 2019 | 22:35 WIB - Redaktur: Siti Chodijah - 1K


Jakarta, InfoPublik – The Kelimutu Lake Festival is considered able to encourage tourism development in Ende Regency, East Nusa Tenggara.

East Nusa Tenggara Governor Viktor Laiskodat in his official statement, Friday (16/8), said the festival has become a strong tourist magnet. It also managed to increase the quality of indigenous people’s lives and bring state’s recognition of the local culture and customs.

"Tourism cannot be separated from nature and culture, and in order to attract more tourists, we also need to improve tourism destinations," he said.

Viktor Laiskodat also stated that tourism sector can become an economic backbone for East Nusa Tenggara.

“The Komodo Airport of which the construction is estimated to be completed in 2022 will open access for flight from Singapore so it will make it easier for tourists to go to Ende to enjoy Kelimutu," he said.

Meanwhile, Ende Deputy Regent Djafar Achmad said tourist visits to Ende Regency during the last five years experienced a significant increase from 13,000 in 2013, rose to 93,000 tourists in 2018.

According to him, tourism activities that highlight historical, natural, and cultural tourism have proven to be interesting, because it always attract more domestic and foreign tourists.

One of the advantages of tourism objects owned by the local region is the worldwide-known Kelimutu National Park (TNK).

"We continue to highlight nature, historical, and cultural tourism to attract more tourists. We also strive to improve the surrounding tourism objects," he said.

Meanwhile, Tourism Ministry’s Deputy Assistant of Marketing Development I Muh. Ricky Fauziani added that Lake Kelimutu is an extraordinary gift from God to Indonesia.

"Kelimutu has been established as a National Nature Conservation Area since 26 February 1992. It will make it even easier for us to promote this attraction to the world if it gets a recognition from Unesco Global Geopark," he said.

 

Reporter: Untung S.

Translator: Wilda Stiana