THE Medana community of North Lombok is again preparing a warm, traditional welcome for hundreds of ocean-going visitors from vessels participating in Sail Indonesia 2011 – only this year the guests will have special facilities and services.Up to 200 vessels are expected to arrive at Medana, in the Tanjung district, setting their crews and passengers ashore at a special floating tourist pier and terminal owned by PT Wisata Alam Samudera (WAS).
Because this year’s international maritime activities are centred on Wakatobi in West Suluwesi and Belitong in Bangka Belitung province, the annual event has become known as Sail Wakatobi – Belitong 2011.
“So far, 117 vessels have registered from 20 countries,” said Ace Robin of WAS. “This is a very important promotional event which is an effective way of increasing the flow of tourists to West Nusa Tenggara [NTB],” he said.
At this stage, peak arrivals are expected from 10 to 16 September when guests will visit North Lombok tourist attractions and other Lombok destinations. In the third year in which the seamen and women will visit Medana, improved facilities and services were being prepared, said Ace Robin.
Medana is responding to decree No KP-389, issued by the Transportation Minister in 2009, allowing a special tourism terminal at Medana bay. A terminal building permit was issued by the Ministry of Civic Affairs in January 2011.
The Medana permissions came after the Communications Ministry authorised special facilities to serve maritime tourists at Nangsa Point in Batam.
“Previously,” said Ace Robin, “Sail Indonesia participants could only anchor at sea and come ashore on the beach in smaller boats. Now we have built the terminal and a floating jetty which can handle 15 yachts. Even motor cruisers up to around 24 metres can use these new facilities at Medana.”
While facilities are not yet complete at the new terminal, they will continue to undergo improvement until they are capable of handling larger-scale cruising vessels
Arrangements are being made for administrative officers to set up a single area in the special terminal from which Customs, Immigration and Quarantine clearances can be conveniently issued to foreign visitors.
North Lombok head of Transportation, Tourism, Communications and Informatics, Sinar Wugiyarno, said he was proud of the special tourism terminal and maximum effort would be made to promote the port of Medana to ships touring Lombok waters.
“The tourism sector in North Lombok accounts for nearly 70 percent of the regency’s revenue,” he said. “It is therefore pleasing that the specialist port facilities will readily accommodate maritime visitors to Lombok and especially North Lombok.”
Tourism data shows that most visitors to North Lombok arrive and depart by sea. “The operation of 18 fast boats from Bali to Gili Trawangan in North Lombok is contributing greatly to the influx of tourists to our regency,” said Sinar Wugiyarno.
“Given the importance of ocean access to North Lombok, we certainly support the specialist facilities at Medana and hope they can be developed to accommodate cruise ships.”
NTB Development Planning Board (Bappeda) head of Spatial Planning and Infrastructure Development , Ahmad Machul, offered similar support, saying the national government’s grouping of NTB, East Nusa Tenggara and Bali into regional development Corridor 5, with priority on the tourism sector and food security, had made tourism development a regional imperative.
“The special Medana facilities will support NTB’s flagship Visit Lombok-Sumbawa campaign to bring one million tourists to the province in 2012.” NTB Bappeda planned to further develop North Lombok through establishment of an international sea port at Tampes, he said.
“Even national Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik is committed to the development of Corridor 5 as a gateway for tourism.
“If we realise both the international port development in North Lombok and the new Lombok International Airport, planned for completion in Central Lombok in October and normal operations by the end of December, then this will certainly spur economic growth in NTB.
“Jobs will be created, bringing improved welfare to society.”
source:enchanting-lomboksumbawa.com
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