He made the statement in response to questions regarding facilities in Labuan Bajo, which are still limited to holding international activities and events.
"We will continue to improve the facility infrastructure, and we are also adding international hotels," Uno said at a press conference in Labuan Bajo, NTT, on Wednesday.
Earlier on May 8, 2023, he informed that hotel occupancy in Labuan Bajo had reached 100 percent ahead of the ongoing ASEAN Summit.
Although hotel facilities in Labuan Bajo for the summit are still relatively limited, the government has prepared free accommodation in the form of the Sinabung Motor Vessel (KM), which can accommodate 2 thousand passengers.
The ship is specifically intended for state civil servants (ASN), journalists/mediapersons, and security forces on duty during the summit.
Uno said that Labuan Bajo must continue to be promoted, especially its floating accommodation facilities, which could provide a unique experience to tourists.
Moreover, related parties must pay attention to infrastructure development in Labuan Bajo and protect the habitat and preservation of Komodo National Park, he added.
"We want to ensure that the conservation of Komodo National Park is maintained and the Komodo dragons can survive for millions of years to come," he emphasized.
In addition, the minister said that as a future destination, Labuan Bajo will focus on quality and sustainability.
Labuan Bajo is hosting the 42nd ASEAN Summit from May 9–11. The next summit will be held in Jakarta in September.
During this year's chairmanship, Indonesia has raised the theme "ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth" to reflect that ASEAN is important and relevant as a world growth center.
In 2019, Labuan Bajo was designated as one of the five super-priority tourism destinations along with Borobudur, Magelang; Lake Toba, North Sumatra; Likupang, North Sulawesi; and Mandalika, West Nusa Tenggara.
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Translator: Shofi Ayudiana, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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