COMMERCIAL PLANES CAN LAND ON SELAYAR NEXT YEAR

Makassar, May 26 (ANTARA) - In 2010, Selayar Islands regency, South Sulawesi, will be covered by commercial aircraft to support the "Takabonerate" world tourism object in the region.

"I have suggested the related ministry to open Makassar - Selayar - Surabaya straight flights," Head of the South Sulawesi transportation agency Andi Sulham Hasan said here Monday.

This is an effort to draw more foreign tourists to visit the marine tourist object, Takabonerate, the world's third most beautiful ocean park with its thousands of protected biota.

In the past, he added, Selayar Islands are reachable only by government subsidized 24-seat Cassa planes, while actually 80-100 seating capacity Fokker planes can land on a Selayar runway.

"This area can shrug off the government subsidy which had been provided to Cassa planes flying to the regency after the runway had been upgraded to allow commercial aircraft to land there," he said, adding that Takabonerate will be visited by more foreign tourists after the realization of the air transport next year.

Sulham said that Selayar Islands which has a marine park which is more beautiful than Bunaken in North Sulawesi, faced transportation problems to the location which lies 25 miles of the Benteng capital coast, Selayar.