Mentawai Airport Expected to Promote Surfing Tourism
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26 October 2023 10:26 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Joko Widodo or Jokowi inaugurated the Mentawai Airport on Sipora Island, Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra, on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. The airport is expected to increase tourist visits to the country’s outermost island.
The new airport has a runway size of 1,500 x 30 meters, which can accommodate large aircraft, such as the ATR 72-600, with a maximum capacity of 78 passengers. Previously, the 850 x 23 meter runway could only accommodate Cessna aircraft with a capacity of 14 passengers.
“We hope that with the ATR planes able to land [at the new airport], more tourists will come to the Mentawai Islands, especially those who like surfing,” Jokowi said at the inauguration of the Mentawai Airport, which was broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel on Wednesday, October 26, 2023.
Mentawai Islands are one of the best surfing spots favored by local and foreign tourists. It has four main islands, namely North Pagai Island, South Pagai Island, Sipora Island, and Siberut Island.
Mentawai has blue seas with perfect waves for surfers. There are 72 surfing spots on the islands, ten of which are of international standard.
Sipora Island has been well-known to foreign tourists since the 1990s. Back in 1991, an Australian surfer Lance Knight discovered the perfect wave there and made it known to the world.
In addition, the pearly white sand, blue water, and lush greenery make the Mentawai Islands an attractive destination for travelers seeking an authentic Indonesian island experience.
MILA NOVITA
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