Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - Recipients of Bank Indonesia (BI) scholarships and local employees of the central bank in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) planted some eight thousand mangrove trees in the Bagek Kembar ecotourism area in Sekotong, West Lombok, Sunday.

The event, led by BI Representative Office chief in NTB Achris Sarwani, was organized to celebrate the eighth anniversary of Indonesian New Generation (GenBI) in NTB.

"This environmental conservation activity is aimed at restoring and beautifying the Bagek Kembar ecotourism area that has become a tourist destination for mangrove conservation," Sarwani stated.

Tourism development must be promoted continually to facilitate economic development of NTB, he added.

The tourism industry also supports other sectors, such as agriculture, trade, transportation, and accommodation, he stated.

"We call on the younger generation of NTB, known globally for its natural beauty, to maintain and preserve the environment. This aims to help promote sustainable tourism development," he remarked.

He also called on the younger generation to help promote the province's tourist destinations on social media to attract more domestic and foreign tourists to visit.

"We hope that the emergence of various tourist destinations in NTB, particularly rural-based tourism destinations, will make NTB more attractive and finally help improve the welfare of the local people," he stated.

NTB, located not far from Bali and scenically no less beautiful than Bali, is optimistic of attracting 3.5 million foreign tourists by 2017 and four million by 2018.

The province's Mandalika is among Indonesia's 10 priority tourist destinations, including Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Tanjung Lesung in Banten, Borobudur Temple in Central Java, Mount Bromo in East Java, Wakatobi national marine park in Southeast Sulawesi, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara, and Morotai Island in North Maluku.

Mandalika Resort is located in Kuta Bay, Central Lombok District, Lombok Island, NTB, and is being developing into a novel attraction of the tourism industry.

Related news: Investors keen on Gili Tangkong tourist resort development
Related news: Indonesia Festival promotes Lombok, Sumbawa tourism in Perth
Related news: Mandalika development meets high standards: President


Translator: Awaludin, Fardah
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2019