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PRESIDENT Joko Widodo in his working visit to Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai has decided that Labuan Bajo, which is one of the five super priority tourist destinations, will be the location of the G-20 Summit (Summit) which will take place in 2023.
This decision is of course arguably encouraging news for the people of NTT, especially for the NTT provincial government which is currently continuing to develop its tourism sector. Moreover, on several occasions the NTT governor Viktor B Laiskodat has stated that one of the leading sectors that can improve the economy in NTT is the tourism sector.
The existence of Labuan Bajo with its diverse tourism potential namely the potential of Komodo (Varanus Komodensis) on Komodo Island and Rinca Island has been heard a lot both by people in Indonesia and internationally.
The stipulation of Labuan Bajo as the location of the G-20 Summit will certainly have a positive impact on the area especially for West Manggara Regency itself. In a limited meeting with a number of ministers, the governor of NTT and also the government of West Manggarai Regency, President Jokowi requested that there be five zones that must be completed to prepare the area to be the location of the 2023 Summit and the ASEAN Summit.
The five zones are Bukit Pramuka, Kampung Air, the container port and passenger dock, Marina Area, and in the Ujung Kampung zone.
“The five zones will also be the driving generators of development and the center of community activity in Labuan Bajo,” President Joko Widodo said as he held a limited meeting at the Komodo Plataran, Labuan Bajo.
In addition, Jokowi wants that the tourist market segment that is present in Labuan Bajo is tourists who do more shopping and transactions than ordinary tourists elsewhere.
Therefore according to the Presdien, it is necessary to have good integration related to tidiness, cleanliness, comfort and safety for tourists. To prepare the area to be the location of the G-20 Summit some things are also needed to provide comfort for the participants of the Summit in 2023 later.
Infrastructure is of course a matter of great concern by President Joko Widodo when visiting the area. Some things to consider are the construction of the Komodo airport which will later be managed by PT .angi.
Not only that he also highlighted the problem of garbage and clean water which became a big homework not only for the West Manggarai Regional Government but also for the government of East Nusa Tenggara. Regarding the Komodo airport Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said that at the end of 2020 the Komodo airport could be stopped by an Airbus 300 aircraft.
“Earlier this year, the construction of the Komodo airport has begun. We are targeting that the end of 2020 will be completed, and there will be an extension of the runway from 2,250 meters to 2,750 meters,” he said.
However, the Minister of Transportation said that the initial stage was that land acquisition according to it was expected to be completed within the next three months. Because he has coordinated with the Governor of NTT and also the airport manager.
Provincial Government Welcomes.
The appointment of NTT as the location of the G-20 Summit said the NTT governor would be a very beneficial thing for the people of NTT, especially small and medium businesses in the area.
Governor Viktor said that when asked to be able to host the G-20 Summit he immediately said that he was willing to host. Therefore, all preparations will begin to be carried out to succeed the meeting of a number of state leaders in Labuan Bajo in 2023.
“There was much that was discussed by the President and he asked to resolve everything that was lacking in this area. In general we are ready to host the G-20 Summit,” NTT Governor Viktor B Laiskodat said after a meeting with the President in Labuan Bajo.
The number one person in NTT added that indeed there are currently many shortcomings in Labuan Bajo if you want to host the G-20 Summit, but all of them can be implemented or fulfilled if all work hard together.
“The location will not be in the city of Labuan Bajo, but the information is in Tanah Mori, but it has not been decided yet. Later we will decide where,” he said.
Likewise, the Head of the NTT Tourism and Creative Economy Office Wayan Darmawa said our side was optimistic that NTT would remain ready to host the G-20 Summit because it was in a limited meeting with President Joko Widodo and the Ministers, Governors Viktor had stated his readiness and said he would escort every partner who will build infrastructure in Labuan Bajo welcome the G-20 Summit.
“Of course, with the appointment of Labuan Bajo as the location of the G-20 Summit, this is certainly a grartistic tourism promotion for us, and of course Labuan Bajo will be increasingly known,” said Wayan.
Currently, infrastructure development such as Marina, road hotels and airports, he said, has begun to be done to welcome the preparations. And one thing that according to him is the problem of water and garbage which is always a complaint of every visitor.
The community must be prepared.
The emergence of Labuan Bajo as the location of the G-20 Summit was a question mark for all parties. The general public considers that the area is not ready if it has to hold such a luxurious meeting.
However, it was denied by economists from Kupang Christian University, Fritz Fanggidae. According to him, if the central government, especially President Jokowi, had agreed to this, it would certainly be implemented.
“If President Jokowi has spoken and appointed the area, then surely the government will also boost so that development in that area will also be built,” he said.
According to him the government will not remain silent after the appointment. But one thing to note is the issue of community preparedness to welcome a meeting that presents heads of state. Local people, especially Labuan Bajo, must become the main drivers of the economy in the regency so that they are not just spectators.
“The West Manggarai regional government, I think from this moment has started to work to prepare and train the community so that they do not become spectators. The exercise is to prepare good culinary delights, then also good knick knacks so that invited guests of the G20 Summit can be amazed,” he said.
For him, the district in NTT that was very pleasant and was considered by the central government was West Manggarai, specifically the city of Labuan Bajo. Therefore, he hoped that the appointment of the city as a G-20 summit would not make the local government sit idly by and wait. [antaranews]
