"The event will provide great benefits for NTT, as it will encourage economic growth. Guests will come, they will eat, drink, stay overnight, and buy many things. That will all have economic impacts, for sure," he said in Kupang, Friday.
However, he admitted that the government has not been able to assess the extent of the economic impacts resulting from the high-level event. He noted that the impact would be felt after the event.
So far, the potential economic impact has been indicated by the fact that all hotel rooms have already been reserved, and this also applies to homestays and local community's houses in Labuan Bajo.
In a bid to further encourage economic growth, Nae Soi affirmed that the government has prepared local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from various regions in NTT to serve their finest products to delegates at the summit's venues.
"We have set designated spots for MSMEs, and later, President Joko Widodo will direct heads of states to stop by the spots as they are walking," he said.
Moreover, the vice governor said that the ASEAN Summit would also help to promote NTT's tourism potential to international citizens.
He believes that the presence of ASEAN heads of states in Labuan Bajo will increase the region's popularity that in turn will attract many more tourists to visit NTT in the future.
"Once ASEAN citizens start to talk about their presidents' visits to ASEAN Summit events in Labuan Bajo, then its name will start to circulate and that is exactly when the marketing process will start. That will help our duty in promoting Labuan Bajo," he said.
Nae Soi further noted that the delegates or the heads of states' entourages would also be able to witness various regional potentials for future investments in the province.
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Translator: Aloysius Lewokeda, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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