SAIL TOMINI EXPECTED TO GIVE LONG TERM ECONOMIC BENEFITS by Fardah

    Jakarta, May 8, 2015 (Antara) - The international maritime event Sail Tomini and Boalemo Festival 2015 were jointly launched by nine ministers, two governors, and two district heads at the Epicentrum Hotel, Jakarta, on May 5, 2015.

         The theme of the annual event is "The Pearl of Equator for Future Life" and its logo depicts a Phinisi traditional sailing boat of Sulawesi.

        The logo and theme are in accordance with the vision of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in developing Indonesia, the world's largest archipelagic nation, as a maritime axis.

         President Joko Widodo once said that Indonesia's future was on the sea and that the government would continue to strengthen its maritime sovereignty in line with its declaration of the concept of the world maritime axis.

         "We have to be convinced that our future is on the seas," said  Jokowi  in his address at the commemoration of the Archipelagic Day in Kotabaru, South Kalimantan, in December 2014.  

  Sharing the president's view, Coordinating Minister for Culture and Human Resource Development Puan Maharani while launching Sail Tomini, expressed her optimism that the event would help to promote tourism in central Sulawesi and Gorontalo provinces, and improve the welfare of the local people.

         "Sail Tomini should not become a mere ceremony. We must ensure that this event in the long term can be beneficial for the improvement of public welfare and boosting economic progress in the provinces and the nation," she affirmed.

        She hoped that Sail Tomini and Festival Boalemo 2015 able to lure domestic as well as foreign tourists that could boost the economy and bring prosperity to local people.

        In the ceremony, Maharani was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, Communication and Informatics Minister Rudiantara, Research, Technology and Higher Education Minister; Cooperatives and SMEs Minister, Industry Minister, State Apparatus Development and Bureaucratic Reform Minister, Youth and Sports Minister, Central Sulawesi Governor Longki Djanggola, Gorontalo Sulawesi Governor Rusli Habibie, Parigi Moutong District Head Samsurizal Tombolotutu, and Boalemo District Head Rum Pagau.

         The ceremony was attended by some one thousand guests including National Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti, legislators, and foreign diplomats.

         On the occasion, Minister Maharani, Minister Pudjiastuti, and Minister Rudiantara also launched the Sail Tomini 2015 website: www.sailtomini2015.com and signed the first-day covers of Sail Tomini and Boalemo Festival stamps.

        The peak event of Sail Tomini 2015 will be held in Perigi Moutong District, some 75 kilometers west of Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi, on September 19, 2015, and is expected to be attended by President Jokowi.

        Boalemo Festival will be held in Tiramita, Gorontalo Province, on September 10, 2015.

       The agenda of Sail Tomini expected to be attended by 10 thousand guests, encompasses 24 activities such as a yacht rally, a maritime research expedition, a warship parade, exhibitions, and scientific seminars.

        Some 100 foreign yachters from various countries are expected to participate in Sail Tomini 2015.
   Minister Pudjiastuti expressed hope that the events would promote tourism and investment in Central Sulawesi and Gorontalo.

       The sail event is a great opportunity to introduce the beautiful scenery of Tomini Bay to the world, according to her.

        "The world must know that we have beautiful places such as Tomini Bay, and tourists should come to visit," he said.

        Tomini Bay is one of the largest bays in Indonesia and rich of maritime natural resources.

        The six million-ha bay has a coral area measuring 1,031 ha, a mangrove forest covering an area of 785.10 ha.  
  "No wonder Tomini Bay has been developed as a main maritime tourism destination and a national food barn," Minister Puan Maharani said in a statement.

        The activities of Sail Tomini 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.

        Tourist attractions in Central Sulawesi include Toli-toli beach city, Lutungan recreational Island, Sematang Island beach, Santigi Island, Talise Beach,  Tirta Bahari beach, Bulu Masomba camping site,  Patunonju Archaeological Park, and Bora old village.    
   Gorontalo is interested in promoting its undersea tourist resort Olele, which is located in Bone Bolango district, during Sail Tomini.

          As part of the Sail Indonesia series, Sail Tomini is 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.***1***
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(T.F001/A/BESSR/A. Abdussalam) 08-05-2015 23:15:07