... we are even expecting the number to increase... "Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - About 130 countries have registered as participants of Sail Komodo 2013 and the total number is still counting, the Head of Tourism and Culture Agency of East Nusa Tenggara Abraham Klakik said here on Monday.
"We hope these registrants will really be participating, and we are even expecting the number to increase because there are still 19 days left for registration," he said.
The Sail Komodo 2013 participants will depart from Darwin, North Australia on July 27 and arrive in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara by July 29.
"They will be arriving in July 29 and stay here for a couple of days before being officially seen off at Kupang Beach, August 4," he said.
The participants are scheduled to visit a number of local tourism destinations in the Timor land before officially shoving off to travel around the island province by August 4.
"Vice President Boediono would likely release the participants from Kupang," he said.
The participants will go through two routes namely the South route of Kupang-Wini-Atapupu-Kalabahi-Lewoleba-Larantuka-Maumere-Riung-Labuan Bajo and the North route of Kupang-Ba`a-Sabu-Sumba Land-Labuan Bajo.
"In every checkpoint, they will be entertained by local art performances and visit local tourism destinations," he added.
The Sail Komodo 2013 participants are expected to arrive in Labuan Bajo by September 9, because the closing ceremony will be held in September 14.
"The closing ceremony earlier planned to be held on the date of the president's birthday on September 9 but because of his activities it is postponed to September 14," he said.
Reporting by Yohanes Andrianus
(G006/H-YH)
Editor: Ade P Marboen
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
