"The number is an increase of 30 percent to that of last year which was recorded at only 25,000," head of promotion section of the local tourism and culture service, Bonafantura Rumat, said here on Tuesday.
He said the increase of foreign tourist arrivals in the past few months was the result of promotion and the nomination of the huge lizard resort as candidates for the the world`s seven wonders.
Bonafantura said despite some shortcomings the number of star-rated hotels available in the region had been quite sufficient. He said there are already two three star-rated hotels and one four star-rated hotel in the region.
He said however that other supporting infrastructure such as roads, bridges as well as land and air transport still needed to be improved.
"The airport meanwhile is not yet able to accommodate wide-body aircraft," he said.
But sea transport service has been quite adequate as some foreign tourists have come aboard a private cruise ship to the region, he said.
"We from the tourism and culture service have always coordinated with the sectors concerned with regard to improving the shortcomings to lure more tourists to the region," he said.(*)
H-YH/A014
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
