TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has said he wants tourists in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, to feel at home and stay longer. Thus, he hoped Labuan Bajo could appear and be presented differently from other tourist spots in the country.

“A premium tourism means we hope there will be differentiation compared to other (tourist) attractions, we expect [tourists] to shop more and stay longer here. We expect that," said President Joko Widodo after presiding over a meeting titled ”The Development of Labuan Bajo Priority Tourism” at Plataran Labuan Bajo Hotel, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Monday, January 20, 2020.

The meeting, which took place on the shore of the Flores Sea, was attended by Tourism Minister Wishnutama, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, State-owned Enterprises (BUMN) Minister Erick Thohir, Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya, NTT Governor Viktor Laiskodat, State Secretary Pratikno, National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Chief Doni Monardo, National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Head Air Marshal Bagus Puruhito and several other state officials.

"It's about their 'spending', as opposed to the number of tourists," Jokowi stated.

The President also targeted that the widening and the extension of the runway at the Komodo Airport would be completed in the beginning of 2020. “It will all be completed by the end of the year so the next step is the promotional stage. We will take those steps, improve the products totally, and then to the promotional stage,” he said.

President Jokowi has announced Labuan Bajo as a superpremium tourist destination and thus called for improved facilities in the area, including more hotels, 5-zone planning, and better infrastructure at the Komodo Airport.

Reporter: ANTARA

Translator: Safira Andini