The veterans are those who were based and on duty on the island of Morotai and other neighboring islands during the World War II, North Maluku governor Thaib Armiyn said here on Friday.
They are invited to attend the ceremony of Sail Morotai aimed at promoting Morotai as a tourist destination, Thaib said.
Morotai was used as military base by the allied forces facing the Japanese in Asia Pacific during the war.
Thaib said the regional administration has made preparations to facilitate the veterans including their transport, and accommodations during their stay in Morotai.
Some of them have to stay with the local people as Morotai has not enough lodging houses to accommodate them.
The war veterans are expected to help promote the island as a tourist object with historical remains especially in the countries where the veterans come from, Thaib said.
The North Maluku provincial administration has built a World War II Museum in Morotai to be commissioned to coincide with the opening ceremony of Sail Morotai.
The commissioning of the Museum will highlight the Sail Morotai opening ceremony, Thaib said.
The museum will give a lot of information about the remains of the World War II in Morotai and other neighboring islands in North Maluku.
Thaib said there are a number of tourist objects on the island of Morotai connected to the World War II such as the islands of Sum-Sum and Dodola, which will also undergo face lifting and be prepared especially in infrastructure to facilitate the visitors .
The island of Sum-Sum was used as a resting place by Gen.
Mac Arthur the chief of the allied forces in the Asia Pacific.
The island has a water spring, called by local people as Glass Water where Gen. MacArthur liked to bathe.
Thaib said Sail Morotai event, which will be officially launched by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono , is expected to be attended by thousands of local and foreign guests including participants with sailing boats.
(H-ASG/F001)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
