Head of Biak Numfor Tourism Office Onny Dangeubun said here Sunday that the district government had conveyed its plan on the underwater museum to the central government.
"District Head Herry Ario Naap submitted a proposal for the development of the underwater museum to the Education, Culture, Research,and Technology Ministry, and Maritime Affairs and Investment Coordinating Ministry during the closing of Sail Teluk Cenderawasih on November 27, 2023," Dangeubun remarked.
The central government had approved the proposal, he said, adding that his side is awaiting the Education, Culture, Research,and Technology Ministry to issue a determination letter.
Dangeubun said that by executing the plan, Biak Numfor will be the first region in Papua to have
an underwater museum.
"Yes, the plan on the development of an underwater museum in Biak Numfor has received support from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and other relevant ministries in Jakarta," he stated.
Meanwhile, the tourism office's deputy for tourism destination, Berto Sroyer, revealed that the planned underwater museum would cover areas in the Padaido/Aimando waters, including the islands of Nusi, Wundi, Mansorbabo, and several villages.
He further said that the underwater museum will display various objects related to World War II, such as torpedo nets, car wrecks, and US air craft wrecks.
Based on data collection, he continued, the waters wield enormous potential to host a successful underwater museum that is expected to emerge as a superior tourism destination in Indonesia's Papua region.
"It should be noted that the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry has designated Biak Numfor's tourism as one of the national priority agendas for 2024. This is expected to boost the number of tourist visits," Sroyer concluded.
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Translator: Muhsidin, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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