Minister Reveals Reason Jokowi Builds Airport on Maratua Island
26 October 2018 16:06 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tourism Minister Arief Yahya has revealed the reason why President Joko Widodo or Jokowi built an airport on Maratua Island, Berau, East Kalimantan.
“We want to boost the tourism potential on the border,” he said at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Friday, October 26.
According to Arief, the airport will jack up the number of tourists and the economy of the local community. Maratua Island is close to the Philippines and Malaysia.
President Jokowi said Derawan Islands were a new economic hub thanks to their incredible potential of marine tourism.
Read: Jokowi Names Derawan Islands New Economic Hub
Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said when reviewing the Maratua Airport that the number of tourist arrivals had escalated following the airport's operation. There is at least a 24 percent increase in one year, he said.
Berau Deputy Regent Agus Tamtomo said currently there were 15 resorts on Derawan Islands, and that the area's economy was driven by marine tourism. “There are 52 diving spots,” he said.
CHITRA PARAMAESTI