"I have reported the provincial government plan to host Sail Komodo 2013 to President Yudhoyono and the head of state said he would fully support such an international marine event," NTT Governor Frans Lebu Raya said here on Saturday.
The governor said President Yudhoyono has asked the local government to plan and promote the event as well as possible in advance.
"Bapak President wants us to plan it better like Sail Banda 2010 which ran successfully because of better plan and vigorous promotions," the governor said.
He said Sail Komodo was intended to introduce komodo to international community and to support tourism in East Nusa Tenggara.
According to the governor, the Sail Komodo event had been proposed to Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry.
Frans expressed hope that the proposal would be approved by the ministry this year so that the event could be realized in an effort to preserve the endangered giant lizard in Komodo island.(*)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
