In addition to having immense potential in cultural tourism, NTT is endowed with at least eight natural wonders, which are expected to boost local economic development and tourism.
Among natural wonders of the province are: Semana Santa in Larantuka; Nihiwatu Beach in Sumba Island; Alor Dive in Alor Island; Nemberalla Beach in Rote Ndao; Komodo Island; Pink Beach in Padar Island; Taman 17 in Riung Island; and the tri-colored lakes of Mount Kelimutu.
In light of this, NTT Governor Viktor Bungtilu Laiskodat reiterated his government`s commitment to developing the tourism sector as a major driver of the economy in the province.
According to Laiskodat, development in the next five years will focus on tourism, human resources, people`s welfare, infrastructure, and bureaucratic reforms.
Of these, the governor reiterated that the tourism sector will be the main driver of the economy, as it is quite prospective, with a variety of world-class potential.
The governor explained that in addition to the natural wonders of Komodo National Park, the world`s most beautiful island of Sumba, tri-colored Lake Kelimutu, and Alor marine park, NTT has a variety of patterns and fabric motifs as a testament to the local women`s intellectual property as part of the wealth of tourism itself.
Furthermore, Laiskodat noted that development of the tourism sector not only focuses on the construction of hotels and restaurants but also the transfer of human culture.
In a bid to support development of the tourism sector, Laiskodat noted that one of the efforts to be undertaken is to establish regional regulations (Perda) that are related to hygiene aspects.
In a bid to halt garbage dumping in future, the local government will prepare a regional regulation in the form of a fine of Rp50 thousand imposed on anyone found to have thrown garbage carelessly.
On the other hand, the local government will continue to seek investment in developing new tourist destinations, including the new Tuamese nature tourism area in the island-based province.
With the presence of the new Tuamese nature tourism area on Timor Island, the natural beauty of Indonesia, comprising thousands of islands attached like emeralds glittering on the equatorial line, will never be completely explored.
What tourists need to explore soon are the scenic Tuamese hills in the North Central Timor (TTU) District in the island of Timor, NTT Province.
Tuamese is worth a visit, but its hidden wonders and beauty are yet to be widely known and explored by several local and foreign tourists.
No wonder, the NTT Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (ASITA) is planning to develop the Tuamese nature tourism destination.
Although the Tuamese tour package has yet to be sold to tourists, NTT ASITA Chairman Abed Frans has stated that the area is still being explored through a survey of the location to find out the profile and then develop it to make it more interesting.
Frans, owner of the Flobamor Tour travel company, remarked that the Tuamese tourist destination offers beautiful and exotic natural scenery, with views of the green hills below, which is a scenic beach and sea that is partly utilized for salt farming.
In addition, the people around the destination are friendly to tourists and provide parking spaces to visitors.
The access road to the Tuamese tourist destination has also been repaired through hardening.
According to Frans, the Tuamese nature tourism in TTU District can then be coupled with various other tourist destinations in Belu District, considering the proximity between the two districts and both being located at the border with Timor Leste.
Apart from the Tuamese nature tourism, NTT Province offers a variety of interesting tourist destinations but unfortunately access to these locations is inadequate, for which the local government needs to put in hard work.
Striving to make the tourism industry an economic pillar for the province and its more than five million people, the local government must soon open access to the various tourist destinations in the province.
Several iconic tourist attractions in NTT have been included in the 2018 "Anugerah Pesona Indonesia" (API) nomination, and it must be responded to and supported positively by the local government by opening access to the locations and preparing professional human resources that are able to serve tourists visiting the places.
NTT ASITA is proud of the inclusion of more tourism icons of the province in the nomination of API 2018.
It means that increasingly more number of people in various regions of Indonesia and abroad will know about the province`s tourism wealth, according to Frans.
Anugerah Pesona Indonesia 2018 offers a free promotional opportunity to highlight the tourism wealth of NTT to the local and international communities, so it needs to be fully supported by all government, private, and public entities.
Seven tourism icons of NTT Province that have been included in the 2018 API nomination are Kelaba Maja rock cliff, the most popular traditional food of "bose" corn, trekking on Komodo Island in West Manggarai District, 1001 Sandalwood horse parade on Sumba Island, Praijing Adat Traditional Village, Caci traditional dance, and Mount Mutis in North Central Timor District as the most popular highlands.
Trekking on Komodo Island in West Manggarai District and the 1001 Sandalwood horse parade on Sumba Island have been well-known worldwide, but the rest are little known, so efforts must be made to popularize them.
The Kelaba Maja rock cliff, located in Sabu Raijua District in Sabu Island, offers beautiful natural scenery and scenic beaches that can be visited.
To reach Kelebba Maja, tourists can find a tour guide, who can show them this scenic location.
Kelebba Maja is a naturally formed rock cliff that has beautiful colors, so domestic and foreign travelers often opt to travel to this place.
Resembling the Grand Canyon in Arizona, Kelabba Maja has richly colored cliffs that should continue to be maintained and preserved by the local citizens of Sabu Island.
Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Eliswan Azly
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
