Chile To Promote Wakatobi As Tourist Destination

Jakarta, Oct 24 (Antara) - Chilean Ambassador to Indonesia Aloysius Lele Madja sees great potential for tourism at Wakatobi district in Southeast Sulawesi and has promised to promote the region in his country and elsewhere. In response to an invitation to promote the district`s tourism and culture in Chile, the envoy visited Wakatobi on Tuesday. He also made a trip to Hoga Island. After he arrived on the island, Aloysius was welcomed with a traditional dance of Wakatobi, called Lariangi, which was performed by girls. The Lariangi is usually performed for important guests visiting the district. "Wakatobi has an extraordinary potential for tourism and vast maritime resources. I will promote them in other countries, particularly Chile," Aloysius said during his trip to Hoga Island. The Chilean envoy made a trip to see the island as his government is likely to build a resort or a star-rated hotel there. "Wakatobi can attract investment as the region has scope for ecotourism development. But to pull in investment in the ecotourism sector, the district still needs supporting infrastructure such as hotels, restaurants, and proper resorts," the Chilean envoy noted. He promised to encourage investors from Chile to invest in Wakatobi. "I will encourage investors from Chile to invest in Wakatobi, particularly to develop hotels and resorts on Hoga Island," said Aloysius. He added that once hotels, restaurants, and resorts come up in Wakatobi, many foreign tourists, especially divers, will certainly visit the area to enjoy its natural beauty, panoramic underwater views, and local traditional art and culture. However, Wakatobi`s extraordinary tourism potential and vast maritime resources must be managed properly, keeping environmental preservation in mind, so they can become sustainable sources of public welfare, Aloysius remarked. As far as the region`s fisheries potential is concerned, the Wakatobi district administration must be careful in allowing investors into the sector, said the Chilean envoy. The region`s marine resources must be exploited keeping environmental sustainability in mind, he added. "If irresponsible investors disturb environmental sustainability, foreign tourists will think twice before coming to visit Wakatobi," he noted. Therefore, it is necessary that investors in the fisheries sector work to ensure environmental sustainability and preservation, he added. Meanwhile, Wakatobi District Head Hugua has said Chilean investors are keen to invest in ecotourism projects in the district. "The Chilean government wants to mobilize investors from the country to invest in Indonesia, particularly in Wakatobi, in the field of ecotourism, including resorts and hotels," Hugua said in Kendari on Wednesday. Therefore, he stated, the Chilean envoy had been invited to visit Wakatobi and promote its tourism and culture in Chile and encourage his country`s investors to invest in the district. The Wakatobi Marine National Park, which is a protected area, makes up at least 1.3 million hectares of Wakatobi, Hugua noted. The park has first-rate diving facilities at several sites such as Karang Mari Mabo, Onemobaa, Pulau Hoga, and Pantai Patuno, he added. The Wakatobi Diving Resort, located in Onemobaa, offers tourists a chance to dive off from a number of beautiful sites and pristine reefs. The diving sites offer a great view of the region�s marine diversity. The resort is surrounded by stunning and pristine drop-offs, walls and slopes to ridges, caverns, caves and sea-mounts. In fact, it has become well-known among many adventurous travelers who are keen to enjoy untouched nature at its best with clean budget accommodation, good hospitality, good food, and tranquility. Known for its artificial beach and a reef just 20 meters from the diving center, Wakatobi attracts many professional divers from around the world. The district also has young volunteers to guide tourists planning to dive into the center of the world`s coral reefs triangle. Divers, tourists, and guests coming to the district can look forward to an excellent diving holiday and explore the area�s rich marine heritage. Tourists visiting Wakatobi will have a trip they will never forget, Hugua remarked. With stunning views of coral reefs, teeming with a large variety of marine life, Wakatobi`s islands also have a lot to offer scuba divers. Hoga Island - with its beautiful underwater landscape - has been a favorite with both domestic and foreign divers. The island has been the center of activity for Operation Wallacea since 1995. Students from Europe and America usually come down to the island to research its marine life from June to August every year. "Here at Wakatobi, the beauty of marine life is waiting to be discovered and explored by tourists from other countries," Hugua noted. Besides marine tourism, Wakatobi also has several cultural attractions to offer tourists, such as Kabuenga, Bangka Mbule-mbule, and Karia. The Bangka Mbule-mbule is usually performed by people from coastal areas of Wakatobi to welcome tourists, Hugua explained. Tourists can also witness the annual Kabuenga performance, wherein adult men and women find their mates, Hugua added. Australia and Asian countries are the main targets of Wakatobi`s tourism promotions, noted the Head of the district`s Tourism and Creative Economy Office, Tawakal. Most of the foreign tourists who visit Wakatobi come from the United States, England, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Only a few are from Australia and Asia, Tawakal explained. "Therefore, we are going to intensify Wakatobi tourism promotions in Australia and Asia to attract more tourists from there," Tawakal added. In Wakatobi, a tourism information center has been set up for tourists to gather information about places to visit, accommodation, restaurants, and transportation facilities. "Wakatobi has a lot of offer tourists - its natural beauty, marine parks with attractive coral reefs and schools of ornamental fishes, and historic sites such as Liya Togo Fort and Liya old mosque," Tawakal said.