"Within this week, the Komodo`s standing became stronger as it rose to sixth place among 28 finalists," Ulbadus Gogi, head of promtion affairs at East Nusatenggara (NTT)`s tourism and culture office, said here Thursday.
He was commenting on the "New7Wonders" Foundation`s threat to suspend the Komodo as a finalist in the election.
Ulbadus said the rare animal living in the Komodo National Park on the western tip of Flores Island had always ranked eight upwards and this week it made tremendous progress.
The improved rating of Komodo could have occurred because of the threat to suspend it from the campaign for the new seven wonders of the world by the organizers, Ulbadus Gogi said.
In addition, voting for the dragon by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on National Press Day last February 9 in Kupang contributed also boosted the Komodo`s ranking.
Ulbadus Gogi said, his office continued to promote the dragon n through every network and was hoping that support for it would continue until the announcement of the winners on November 11. 2011.
He believed, the Komodo would qualify as one of the seven new wonders of the world because support for the giant lizard was continuing to flow in.
The East Nusa Tenggara administration and the people expect any support from the hospitality and Indonesian residing anywhere because Komodo is not just owned by East Nusa Tenggara people but belongs to all the people of Indonesia.
"We believe, with the position today, Komodo is certainly able to compete and set aside the 28 other finalists as one of the seven wonders of the world," Ulbadus Gogi said. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
