"The president saw the inside of the cave, then praised the cave's beauty. He was very satisfied," West Manggarai Tourism, Creative Economy, and Culture Office official Santo stated here on Sunday.
Santo, who guided the president's visit, said that Jokowi asked many questions during his tour there, including local folklore about the cave.
He noted that while Jokowi's family members who joined the tour walked down the trail to the cave, only Jokowi and his grandson, Jan Ethes Srinarendra, entered the cave.
Jokowi and Srinarendra wore helmets as safety precautions before entering the cave by crouching to avoid hitting rocks, Santo added.
The official pointed out that the president attracted by the natural features in the Batu Cermin Cave, which he said is maintained to give a good impression to visitors.
"The president also hopes tourists' visits to Batu Cermin Cave can increase after this. In principle, he praised the cave's beauty," he remarked.
After observing the Batu Cermin Cave, Jokowi and his family purchased souvenirs sold by local traders at the tourist attraction's front gate.
Jokowi and his entourage arrived by presidential aircraft at Labuan Bajo's Komodo Airport on Saturday (April 22) at 06.44 pm local time, after spending his Eid al-Fitr morning in his hometown Surakarta, Central Java.
Earlier, President Director of Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority (BPOLBF) Shana Fatina confirmed that one of the president's agenda during his visit was to observe the ASEAN Summit preparation hosted in Labuan Bajo in May.
"(The president) is (performing) the final check for the ASEAN Summit," Fatina stated here on Sunday.
Related news: Jokowi checks Labuan Bajo's readiness for hosting ASEAN Summit
Related news: President Jokowi, First Lady visits Batu Cermin Cave in Labuan Bajo
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Translator: Fransiska MN, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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