RAJA AMPAT GEARS UP TO WELCOME YATCH RALLY PARTICIPANTS By Fardah

  Jakarta, May 27, 2014 (Antara) - Raja Ampat Islands often dubbed "Heaven on Earth" for its alluring marine panoramas, readies itself to welcome sailors and adventurers from 18 countries during its opening ceremony to be inaugurated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.     
    "Sail Raja Ampat 2014 will officially kick off at Waisai Torang Cinta (WTC) Beach, Kota Waisai, Raja Ampat, West Papua, on June 21, 2014," Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sharif C. Sutardjo remarked while recently inspecting the final preparations for the international maritime event in Raja Ampat District, West Papua.

          Numerous participants from at least 18 countries, such as Malaysia, Australia, The Netherlands, Thailand, the Philippines, and the United States are expected to visit Raja Ampat in yachts.

          The agenda of Sail Raja Ampat 2014 will feature a marine research expedition, a yacht rally, national and international seminars, civic mission, free medical services, a tourism promotion, and sports competitions. Sail Raja Ampat will also be organized in conjunction with the Lake Sentani Festival 2014, which will be held in Papua Province, on June 19-23, 2014.

        Raja Ampat, which literally means "Four Kings", is derived from a local myth and has one of the most beautiful marine panoramas in the world. The archipelago comprises around 1.7 thousand islands and encompasses more than 9.8 million acres of land and sea off the northwestern tip of the West Papua Province. It has four major islands: Waigeo, Salawati, Batanta, and Misool, which are home to ancient rock paintings.    
        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 diversity of marine flora and fauna.

        It has 1,320 fish species; 75 percent of the world's coral species, 10 times the number of corals in Caribbean; five species of rare turtles; 57 species of mantis shrimps; 13 species of marine mammals; and 27 species of rare fish.

          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.

         Dr John Veron, Australia's noted coral expert, has acknowledged that Raja Ampat has the best coral reef in Indonesia. During a two-week research project in Raja Ampat, he identified around 450 species of corals.

        As part of the Sail Indonesia series, Sail Raja Ampat is the sixth event after Sail Bunaken in 2009, Sail Banda in 2010, Sail Wakatobi-Belitung in 2011, Sail Morotai in 2012, and Sail Komodo in 2013.

        The international maritime events are organized with the objective of promoting tourism in the regions, accelerating the development programs, improving access to isolated or remote areas, and improving the welfare of the people.

         Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu recently stated that the Sail Raja Ampat 2014 event will be more attractive than the previous Sail Indonesian events.

        The promotional event of Sail Raja Ampat was recently attended by around three thousand participants who were able to experience the natural beauty of Raja Ampat's underwater panoramic views.

         The district administration of Raja Ampat has set up a promotion office in Jakarta and five marine tourism operators in Papua.

         Indonesia's flag carrier, Garuda Airways has recently opened new routes to West Papua's Sorong Airport, which is around 67 kilometers from Waisai, the capital of Raja Ampat District. The new routes connect Sorong with Jakarta, Manado (North Sulawesi), Balikpapan (East Kalimantan), Jayapura, and Timika (Papua Province).

        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 noted in Sorong port, West Papua. 
    On the sidelines of the Global Oceans Action Summit (GOAS) for Food Security and Blue Growth held in The Hague, the Netherlands, April 22-25, 2014, the Indonesian government promoted the Sail Raja Ampat event.

         Information on the upcoming maritime event grabbed the attention of several people in The Hague, Berlianto Situngkir, the first secretary of the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague recently claimed in a statement.

         "Don't die before visiting Raja Ampat islands," West Papua Governor Abraham Octavianus Aturury recently emphasized while promoting Sail Raja Ampat before several foreign ambassadors and diplomats in Jakarta.

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