TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Tourism Agency head Marius Ardu Jelamu confirmed the community in the cross-border of Belu district planned to build a statue of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo. According to Marius, the sculpture will serve as tourism branding.
“Because Pak Jokowi is a figure admired by NTT people, even Timor Leste. So, the statue will increase tourist arrival,” Marius told Tempo via a phone call on Monday, October 8.
Marius explained the initial plan to build the statue was first delivered by the regional government to Tourism Minister Arief Yahya during Fulan Fehan Festival on Saturday, October 6. Arief approved of the plan.
The statue, he added, would be built under Asam Tree, which was known as Asam Jokowi Tree, following a 2014 presidential visit. The site has since become a tourist spot that lured 50-70 tourists per day.
Read: Jokowi: Mangunan Forest is Instragammable Tourist Site
Asam Jokowi Tree is located on a hill, which is the best place in Belu district to witness the sunset. From the uphill, Marius said, tourists would have a bird's eye view ofTimor Leste city.
Marius further explained the statue of Jokowi would bear a modest design. The locals have agreed to create the statue with fiber. Meanwhile, Tourism Ministry spokesman said the statue would be made like a plastic mannequin similar to those at airports.
Marius said the Belu Tourism Agency would calculate the project's budget prior to submitting it to the Tourism minister with a recommendation from the provincial agency.
FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA
