TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The secretary of the Coordinating Maritime Affairs Ministry, Agus Purwoto, officially opened the festivals which will be held in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) during July this year, on Sunday, July 15, at Balai Kartini, Jakarta. The festivals are Sail Indonesia-Samota (Satonda, Moyo, Tambora), Bulan Pesona Lombok Sumbawa, and Festival Pesona Moyo.
The launching ceremony is enlivened by performances of Zapin Melayu dance and Tanjung Menangis as well as a music performance by Vina Panduwinata.
Sail Samota will involve 170 yachts from various countries in Australia, Asia, Europe, and Amerika. The yachts boat is slated to dock on September 9-23 at Labuan Badas, Sumbawa Besar. President Jokowi is scheduled to open the festival.
Many events will enliven Sail Samoto festivals such as Culture Performance in Badas Port, Maritime Expo, International Culinary, Moyo Tambora Fun Run, Investment Forum, Tambora Volcano Tour, International Yacht Rally, City Parade, Culture Dialogue, International Tenun Fest, and Social Health Service.
Aside from that, there are International Paragliding which will be held in Mantar, West Sumbawa, Barapan Kebo and Horse Race, International Seminar ‘Asia Pacific Geopark Network’, Gili Begawe in North Lombok, Senggigi Festival, and Farewell Party of Sail Indonesia in Gili Mas Lembar, West Lombok.
NTB Tourism Agency head Lalu Moh Faozal, after the launching ceremony, pinned hope the festivals will success, especially the Sail Indonesia festival.
NTB Governor Muhammad Amin, meanwhile, said such tourism creativity had boosted the regional economy for the past five years at 7.5 percent above the national average value. The governor hoped the tourist visit will reach 4.5 million people in 2018, and next year 5 million people. “[The figure] is the same as NTB’s population,” Amin said.
SUPRIYANTHO KHAFID
