'MV TELUK AMBON' TO BE TURNED INTO FLOATING RESTAURANT

Ambon, Maluku, April 15 (ANTARA) - The ferry boat "MV Teluk Ambon" will be redesigned and turned into a floating restaurant to support tourism sector development in Maluku's provincial capital of Ambon.

"The boat arrived here early March this year and after being dedicated by Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi in the near future, it will be redesigned and turned into a floating restaurant, operating in Ambon's Inner Bay," PD Panca Karya president Director Jipi Huwae said here on Thursday.

PD Panca Karya is a regional company of the Maluku provincial administration that operates the boat.

Huwae said the MV Teluk Ambon which used to serve the the Galala-Poka-Ambon route would be redesigned as a floating restaurant that would be open to the public from the afternoon until the night.

"We are making this breakthrough with the consideration that the provincial capital of Ambon still has no floating restaurant. Both domestic and foreign tourists like such a restaurant," Huwae said.

He expressed optimism that if the MV Teluk Ambon was redesigned into a floating restaurant, it could contribute much to Ambon city's revenue.

"Such a prospective business is being coordinated with various competent parties to make it profitable," Huwae said.

He added that when MV Teluk Ambon was operated as a floating restaurant, domestic and foreign tourists would have an opportunity to enjoy Maluku traditional food and Ambon's nightlife.

"The tourists can sail around Ambon's Inner Bay on board the MV Teluk Ambon while enjoying nightlife and traditional food," Huwae said, expressing hope that the floating restaurant could begin operating prior to opening of the international marine event of Sail Banda which is scheduled to last from July to August this year.