SAIL TOMINI TO PROMOTE CENTRAL SULAWESI AS INTERNATIONAL TOURIST DESTINATION By Fardah

Jakarta, Nov 9, 2014 (Antara) - Next year will be the turn of Central Sulawesi province to be promoted as an international tourist destination through the maritime event, Sail Tomini 2015.

         The exact date of the Sail Tomini 2015 event has yet to be decided, but it will be held in the Parigi Moutong district of Central Sulawesi---a heterogeneous region where local tribes such as Tomini, Tinombo, and Moutong live together with migrants from other islands, including Bali.

         Sail Tomini should be designed differently from the previous chapters of the events because the international maritime event next year is expected to help promote tourist destinations in Central Sulawesi province, particularly around Tomini Bay, a tourism industry observer and a doctorate graduate from the University of Padjajaran, Suaib Djafar, said in Palu recently.

         He also suggested that the tourism event cover the three aspects of culture, adventure and nature, or CAN.

         Moreover, Parigi Moutong, where it is scheduled to be held, has the scenic beauty of its nature to offer, along with agro-tourism, authentic culinary, and cliff climbing.

        "Parigi Moutong has one of the best cliffs that I know of. We should promote it internationally," the observer noted.             
   Durian fruit agro-tourism should also be introduced to participants of Sail Tomini, Djafar stated.

        At the event, Balinese culture and arts should be promoted as well, so it is apparent to audiences that Central Sulawesi is like a miniature Indonesia, holding true to the saying "diversity in unity," he added.

        Furthermore, cultural aspect is crucial for the vision of a "Great Indonesia," particularly to the concept of "mental revolution" mentioned by the newly-inaugurated President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo during his presidential campaign in July, Djafar explained.

        The then president of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono issued presidential decree No. 42/2014 on October 17 as a legal basis for organizing Sail Tomini 2015, which is part of the government's annual international maritime event, the Sail Indonesia series.

        Sail Indonesia is organized with the aim to improve the welfare of the people local to where the event is held and to attract foreign tourists.

         As part of the Sail Indonesia series, Sail Tomini will be the seventh event after Sail Bunaken in 2009, Sail Banda in 2010, Sail Wakatobi-Belitung in 2011, Sail Morotai in 2012, Sail Komodo in 2013, and Sail Raja Ampat in 2014.

       Based on the presidential decree on Sail Tomini 2015, the government has prepared 18 major programs and activities, according to the head of the Central Sulawesi maritime affairs and fisheries office, Hasanuddin Atjo.

        The programs and activities prepared include free medical services for the public in Central Sulawesi, a boat parade, parachuting, Nusantara Circle VI sailing, a kampong development movement, a Nusantara youth sailing, a yacht rally, a Tomini Batik expo, seminars on maritime affairs, and a maritime research expedition.

       The activities will see the involvement of the authorities and inhabitants of 18 districts and cities of Central Sulawesi province, as well as those of the neighboring Gorontalo province.

         Gorontalo is interested in promoting its undersea tourist resort Olele, which is located in Bone Bolango district, during Sail Tomini.

         Bone Bolango District Head Hamim Pou said that the Sail Tomini event would be a good opportunity to promote his district as a world tourist destination.

         In addition, Central Sulawesi Governor Longki Djanggola recently stated that his administration would ensure the success of Sail Tomini.

         The province is very rich in maritime resources and has potential for tourism, fishery industries and maritime services. Its location is very strategic because it shares borders with eight provinces of the Sulawesi, Kalimantan and Maluku islands.

         The governor pointed out that Sail Tomini would also speed up development in his province, thanks to the budget to be allocated by the central government to build infrastructure, such as roads and other facilities, needed for the implementation of the event.

         The authorities will also use Sail Tomini as an opportunity to promote its main commodities, including seaweed, cocoa and pearls, and invite businessmen to invest in the industries in the province.

         "We are hopeful that Central Sulawesi will become a new economic growth hub in eastern Indonesia," Governor Djanggola added.

         Sail Tomini's activities will not only be held in the district of Parigi Moutong but also in the Togian Islands, Tojo Una-Una district, and the provincial capital of Palu.

          Covering a total area of 63 thousand square kilometers, Central Sulawesi will need some Rp1.6 trillion from the state budget to prepare for Sail Tomini, Deputy Governor of Central Sulawesi Sudarto affirmed.

         The funds will be used to build infrastructure, such as roads, and renovate seaports, among other things, he said.     
    Indonesia is one of the world's largest maritime countries, with about 5.8 million square kilometers of marine territory. The state has beaches and coastal areas that are some 92,000 kilometers long totally, second in the world after Canada.

         The country's waters account for almost 70 percent, or two-thirds, of its national territory.

        In his presidential inauguration address, President Jokowi pledged to revive the country's past of finding riches in its seas.

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(f001/INE)