Destination LABUAN BAJO: Infrastructure, Human Resources Built on SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

The prestigious Annual Meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)- World Bank Group has started in Nusa Dua, Bali, and will continue from 8th to 14thOctober 2018.  Over 32, 000 Delegates from no less than 189 countries have streamed in to Bali for this, world’s ultimate meeting of Financial Ministers andGovernors of Central Banks.
 When earlier, the Indonesian Government expected to greet a maximum 20,000 people, this number has surged to 32,000 and counting, presumably not the least reason since being drawn by the iconic resort island that is magical Bali.

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But Bali is not the only island that delegates will explore on post-conference tours. Indonesia has set a number of breathtaking destinations for delegates to visit among which : the Komodo National Park with Labuan Bajo resort as stepping off point, fantastically beautiful Lake Toba and meet its friendly Batak ethnic population, magnificent Borobudur temple;  the dive paradise of Raja Ampat, to the Toraja Highlands, the land above the clouds.   

Get up close and personal with the Komodo Prehistoric Lizards

A must see is the Komodo National Park in East Nusa Tenggara province, which has as entry point the coastal town of Labuan Bajo on the western-most edge of the island of Flores. From here, speedboats will take passengers in 2 hours to the islands of Komodo, home of the prehistoric lizards. 

Just 1 hour and 15 minutes flight from Bali, the town of Labuan Bajo and the Komodo islands offer a very different landscape where the prehistoric Komodo giant lizards reign supreme in their habitat. But besides giving delegates the singular experience to  get up close and personal with these huge carnivorous beasts in nature, the islands also offer fabulous underwater life where huge turtles, manta rays and gorgeous colorful reefs make this a paradise for divers.  And as bonus, there is the isolated Pink Beach, which is an alluring attraction in its own right.  The welcoming people of Flores, their megalithic culture and their intricate woven fabrics promise a holiday not easily forgotten. 

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Only recently “discovered” by the tourism community, the fishing town of Labuan Bajo has in a very short time developed from a mere hopping off point to a tourist resort. The airport has been transformed to  international standard with its runway being extended to receive jumbo jets. 
But, to ensure that the habitat of these rare lizards and other sea creatures will not be destroyed, while at the same time  improve the life of communities through tourism, the Indonesian Government has made sure that all aspects are well taken care of : that these rare creatures are protected for generations to come through sustainable development, at the same time open opportunities for people of the world to admire the wonders of the earth, and thereby improve the economic, social and cultural life of the population.

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Set as a National Tourism Strategic Region (KSPN), Labuan Bajo has continuously developed its infrastructure as well as human resources to support the above aims. And, to further accommodate the needs of tourists, the government has built supporting infrastructure and facilities that include waste disposal management, clean water management, transportation, road constructions, water drainage management, electricity, health services, tourist destination development, and human resources capacity improvement (one of which is through certification of dive guides).

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At present, waste disposal management is done through the cooperation between the Directorate General of Human Settlements (DitjenCiptaKarya) in the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (Kemen PUPR), the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, and the Regency of West Manggarai. Among major programs are waste management facilities development, recycling center development, and building a new waste disposal center (TPA) or landfill called TPA Warloka. Non-recyclable plastic waste are also utilized as a mixture for asphalt used for road construction.

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As for Clean water management this involves a distribution network development across the region that covers the airport, seaport, as well as remote villages, and is undertaken by the Regional Water Utility Company (PDAM) and the Water Utility System Provider (PSPAM)-CiptaKarya
Meanwhile, Komodo Airport and the Labuan Bajo Seaport are ready to welcome all delegates of the IMF-WBG Annual Meeting. All supporting facilities such as the airport’s travelator (moving walkway) has been completed in September. The Directorate General of Sea Transportation in the Ministry of Transportation, PT. ASDP (Sea Transportation Service Company) and the West Manggarai Regency are also cooperating in building a Marina that is planned to be completed in November 2018. But, the renovation of the passenger terminal has been completed by end September, all set to welcome delegates.

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Improvements have also been made to roads, pedestrians, and drainage systems. The Directorate General of Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources along with the National Power Company (PLN) also joined hands to provide solar powered public street lighting on 517 points as well as increase electric power through PLTMG 20 MW and the rehabilitation of switching facilities.

As a prime diving destination, the government has placed high attention to safety and security of the destination. If previously divers who experienced decompression illnesses had to be taken to Bali to receive treatment, today, with the coordination of the Ministry of Health they can be treated in Labuan Bajo through the procurement of a Hyperbaric Chamber, Ventilator, and other supporting health facilities.

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Aside from infrastructure and facilities, the government also placed emphasis on human resources development in Labuan Bajo. Applying the principles of Sustainable Tourism, the coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, the West Manggarai Regency, and the National Profession Certification Agency (BNSP) have together conducted a capacity building program for certification of dive guides on 23rd to 25th August 2018. WithIn two weeks, those who passed the competency assessments received certificates to ensure that their capabilities have met required standards  expected of a diveguide.

The Deputy Minister for Human Resources, Science, and Culture of the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Safri Burhanuddin, undelined that at the end ofthe IMF-WBG Annual Meeting,all upgraded infrastructure and facilities as well as capacity building of human resources will be handed over to the benefit ofLabuan Bajo. “It will depend on how communities and the regional government will make the best use and maintain all the above, so that tourism development can continue to be sustainable, where the benefits that tourism bring must be felt by all sectors of society”

Sustainable (Diving) Tourism Development

On the subject of preservation of precious coral reefs, by applying the principles of sustainable tourism and to prevent the destruction of reefs as well as to ensure safety of divers, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry through the management of the Komodo National Park is currently installing  mooring buoys. These floating devices allow ships to moor and remain secured in deep oceanic areas. These round orange and grey colored floating devices can save coral reefs from damages caused by ships’ anchors.

Currently 28 Mooring Buoys are already installed, spread over the waters of the Komodo National Park. The National Park further plans to add 5 to 7 more mooring buoys before the end of the year.

On Sunday, 7 October, Coordinating Minister Luhut  Panjaitan together with IMF Managing Director and Chairwoman,  Christine Lagarde and group went coral reef replanting to emphasize the importance of living reefs to the world’s ecosystem. 

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