Moreover, Labuan Bajo is a (tourist) destination which is highly related to conservation and biodiversity.
Labuan Bajo, NTT (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi’s) visit to Loh Buaya on Monday was aimed at ensuring the readiness of the tourist area ahead of the 42nd ASEAN Summit, the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority (BPOLBF) said.

"Mr. President himself ensured the readiness of each (tourist) destination, thus it will be ready to be visited during the Eid al-Fitr holidays and the ASEAN Summit," the president director of BPOLBF, Shana Fatina, said here on Monday.

The summit is scheduled to be held in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai district, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province, from May 9 to 11, 2023.

Meanwhile, the government has set the joint leave period for the 1444 Hijri Eid Al-Fitr from April 19 to April 25. The Religious Affairs Ministry announced that the Islamic holy day would be observed in Indonesia on April 22 this year.

According to the BPOLBF president director, the Loh Buaya area, which has been revitalized in the past two years, reflects the government's commitment to preparing quality conservation tourism at Komodo National Park.

“(Conservation tourism is) a tourism that does not only display the natural beauty, but is also full of education and knowledge. Moreover, Labuan Bajo is a (tourist) destination which is highly related to conservation and biodiversity," she said.

During the 42nd ASEAN Summit, delegates will be invited to a tour of the destination, Fatina stated.

Some of the 700 delegates attending the summit are expected to visit the tourist area, she informed.

"Including media crews, whose number reaches 300 pax," she added.

She said that BPOLBF has prepared 10 help desks at the airport as well as the delegates’ hotels to promote tour packages to various destinations in Labuan Bajo throughout the summit.

"Thus, although if they do not have time to tour (in Labuan Bajo) now (during the summit), they can still have enough information to come back and bring their families for traveling (in the future)," she added.

The President and his family boarded the Ayana Lako Di'a pinisi – an Indonesian traditional sailing vessel originating from South Sulawesi -- at Labuan Bajo Port on Monday at 10:25 a.m. Central Indonesian Standard Time (WITA) to sail to Loh Buaya, Komodo National Park.

They arrived back at Labuan Bajo Port at 5:09 p.m. WITA and headed to the Meruorah Labuan Bajo Hotel to rest.

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Translator: Fransiska Nuka, Uyu Liman
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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