SAIL RAJA AMPAT OFFERS OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT "HEAVEN ON EARTH" by Fardah

      Jakarta, March 28, 2014 (Antara) - Indonesia will offer an opportunity for nature lovers to visit Raja Ampat, often called "Heaven on Earth", "Miracle of Papua", "Underwater Paradise on Earth", or "Real Wonder of the World" for its mesmerizing marine panorama.

        In June this year, the Indonesian government will organize Sail Raja Ampat as part of its annual international maritime event, to bring the sail's participants and guests to the country's most exotic location.  
   Since 2009, Indonesia has organized the annual Sail Indonesia event on five earlier occasions - Sail Bunaken 2009, Sail Banda 2010, Sail Wakatobi- Belitong 2011, Sail Morotai 2012, and Sail Komodo 2013.

        This year, Sail Raja Ampat is expected to have participation from several countries including Malaysia, Australia, the Netherlands, Thailand, The Philippines, and the United States.
    Sail Raja Ampat themed "Developing Marine, Taking Raja Ampat to World Tourism Arena," is aimed at promoting Raja Ampat, which is located in the West Papua province, to be one of the world's most favorite tourist destinations. Raja Ampat has become one of the top diving tourism destinations in the world.

        Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono recently stated that the objective of organizing Sail Raja Ampat is to accelerate regional development, improve infrastructure, and boost investment in West Papua.

         "In Raja Ampat, there is a geopark that is more beautiful than the one in Halong Bay, Vietnam," Minister Agung Laksono claimed.

         Sail Raja Ampat is scheduled to be organized on June 21, almost coinciding with the Sentani Festival, which is held annually in Papua, on June 19.

         Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu recently promised that the Sail Raja Ampat 2014 will be more attractive than the previous events, with a parade of tourist vessels close to the coast.

          President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to officially launch Sail Raja Ampat, on June 21, 2014.

         Raja Ampat has one of the most beautiful marine panoramas in the world that has the potential to attract many foreign tourists and, in particular, world-class divers, Minister for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sharif Cicip Sutardjo remarked in a statement on Friday (Mar. 28).

         The government hopes that Sail Raja Ampat 2014 will help to accelerate the development in the region and improve the welfare of the people in West Papua.

         "The international sail event has become a model for the development acceleration program on islands and in remote areas," he emphasized.

         According to Minister Mari Pangestu, the preparations for Sail Raja Ampat 2014 are 50 percent complete.

         "We are confident that the Sail Raja Ampat 2014 event will be successful," Mari recently claimed.
       She, however, asserted that Raja Ampat will be maintained as an exclusive tourism destination in order to protect its amazing underwater panorama and to develop sustainable tourism industry.

          "Raja Ampat is not a mass tourist destination, therefore, it is very expensive for Indonesian tourists in particular," the minister added.

         To support the Sail Raja Ampat event, Minister Mari Elka Pangestu recently inaugurated a 400-passenger-capacity ship serving the Sorong-Raja Ampat route.

        "This is the fourth ferry that will serve the Sorong-Raja Ampat route every day. This luxury ferry boat is equipped with air conditioning and karaoke facilities in the cabin of the ship," the minister remarked in Sorong port, West Papua.

         In 2012, Raja Ampat has been included in the Real Wonder of the World list.  It has been recognized as one of the world's 10 most beautiful diving sites, and rated number one for its rich marine flora and fauna diversity.

         The name Raja Ampat or "Four Kings" is derived from a local myth. It has four major islands: Waigeo, Salawati, Batanta, and Misool, which are home to ancient rock paintings.

         In total, the Raja Ampat district has around 1.7 thousand islands, including the unoccupied and most beautiful Isle of Wayag, which is made of karst or limestone from other isles.

         The waters of Raja Ampat have approximately 603 hard coral species, representing 75 percent of the total coral reefs in the world, according to the information posted on rajaampatlodge.com.

        Based on various studies by the world natural conservation agencies, such as Conservation International and Nature Conservancy, Raja Ampat waters are estimated to have 1397 fish species. The waters of Raja Ampat are also called "Capital for Fish in the World."
   There are also 60 varieties of crayfish, 699 types of soft animals or species of mollusks, comprising 530 species of snails (Gastropoda), 159 species of shells (bivalva), two species of Scaphopoda, five species of squid (Cephalopoda), and three Chiton species.
  The amazing marine flora and fauna have made the Raja Ampat archipelago, a group of small islands, into an abundant marine biodiversity area, the rajaampatlodge.com quoted Raja Ampat district's tourism profile.

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(T.F001/A/BESSR/A/A. Abdussalam) 28-03-2014 23:43:41