Foreign tourists should visit the small islands with their beautiful natural and cultural attractions, get to know the local people and understand their traditions, the governor said here on Thursday.
"Currently the provincial administration is initiating a Sail Komodo 2013. We hope this event will also encourage its participants to visit the remote isles in NTT Province and thereby enable them to tell others in their countries about the isles," he told the press.
Over the past several years, participants of Sail Indonesia, had used NTT as an entry gate by making transits in Kupang, Alor, Flores Timur, Maumere, Ende and Manggarai.
The Sail Komodo 2013 is expected to attract foreign tourists to stay for few days in NTT`s isles, and make them as touristic destinations in the future, according to the governor.
The NTT administration has proposed the organization of Sail Komodo 2013 to the central government and hoped that the NTT regional legislative council would give their political sport.
The proposed international marine event would be called Sail Komodo because Komodo has become globally known by its inclusion as a finalist in the New7Wonders of Nature competition, he said.
Whether Komodo would win or lose in the New7Wonder competition, the NTT government would continue to promote Komodo internationally, he said.
The Komodo dragon is the world`s only surviving giant lizard living in Komodo National Park in NTT.
The number of foreign tourists visiting Komodo National Park has increased since Komodo became a finalist in the New7Wonders of Nature competition, East Nusatenggara (NTT) Deputy Governor Esthon Foenay said.
"Up to August 2011, some 32,354 foreign tourists visited the Komodo national park while the number of domestic tourists who came to the island was 4,145, up from 2,955 in 2010," the deputy governor said recently.
(Uu.F001/HAJM/S012)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
