"We need the funds to finance the management of various tourism objects, including the maintenance of the traditional culture of the local people, and conduct promotions in Australia and other countries in Asia," the head of the district`s tourism and creative economic office, Tawakal, said on Friday.
According to Tawakal, Australia and Asian countries were the main targets of Wakatobi`s tourism promotions in a bid to attract as many tourists as possible from there.
"We hope tourists from Australia and Asian countries will make Wakatobi their destination," Tawakal said.
He said that the number of both domestic and foreign tourists who visit Wakatobi at present had reached 15,000 to 20,000 people per year.
Tawakal said most of the foreign tourists who visited Wakatobi came from the United States, England, the Netherlands, and Switzerland but only a few of them were from Australia and Asia.
"Therefore we are going to intensify Wakatobi tourism promotions in Australia and Asia to attract more tourists from there," Tawakal said.
In Wakatobi, a tourism information center has been set up for tourists to obtain information about places to visit, accommodations, restaurants, and transportation facilities.
"Wakatobi is offering tourists its natural beauty, marine parks with attractive coral reefs and schools of ornamental fishes, and historic sites such as Liya Togo Fort and Liya old mosque," Tawakal said.
In an effort to support the tourism industry in Wakatobi, Tawakal added, his office would in 2012 build a culinary market in the district town of Wangi-wangi.
"The construction of the culinary market in Wangi-wangi next year is to meet the demand of both domestic and foreign tourists for typical Wakatobi cuisine," Tawakal said.(*)
O001/HAJM/F001
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
