TEMPO.CO, Denpasar - Minister of Tourism Arief Yahya said that the construction of the marina harbor as an international cruise ship berths in Labuan Bajo, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, requires Rp300 billion funding.
Met in Benoa, Bali, Arief said the budget the Harbor Marina project—as one of the 10 national destinations being prioritized by the government—is sourced from the state budget and private funding.
"The harbor is big and long so that international cruise ships will be able to dock there," he said.
Arief Yahya was in Bali to attend a meeting on the stabilization of tourism cooperation between the Provincial Government of East Nusa Tenggara with a US international cruise ship operator, Carnival. The event took place on the Pacific Eden cruise ship docking in Benoa, Bali on Thursday, April 13, 2017.
Other state officials who attended the meeting include Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, and East Nusa Tenggara Governor Frans Lebu Raya.
Frans Lebu Raya said that the tourism cooperation with Carnival is fully supported by the central government. It is expected to help Labuan Bajo becomes part of Indonesia's focus on tourism development.
Lebu Raya said harbor marina construction is targeted for completion 2019. He said Labuan Bajo will serve as the gateway for foreign tourists coming in on cruise ships, who are expected to stop in other destinations along the island of Flores, Lembata, Timor, Alor and Sumba.
ANTARA