Ahead of the ASEAN Summit, Labuan Bajo Experiences an Improvement in the Quality of Tourism and the Economy
By: Arsenio Bagas Pamungkas )*
The 42nd ASEAN Summit which will be held in May 2023, to be exact, will be held on 9-11 May in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The area that has always been a paradise for Mother Earth, Labuan Bajo continues to improve its quality, including in the tourism, environmental and economic sectors.
The 42nd ASEAN Summit is an important moment to promote the Labuan Bajo Tourism Area which has proven its natural beauty to attract the world’s attention, especially the delegates from ASEAN countries who will come to Indonesia. Various preparations have been made from various sectors, starting from the preparation of local MSME products that increase the quality and quantity, hotels and resorts to tourist destinations that will become highlights.
As if not wanting to miss this opportunity, the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) has improved several infrastructure and facilities at various points in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), especially in the Labuan Bajo area and the Tana Mori area so that later it can be memorable for domestic and foreign tourists. foreign countries visiting there, especially ASEAN delegates.
Director General of Human Settlement of the PUPR Ministry Diana Kusumastuti stated that infrastructure development does not only play a role solely in supporting the success of the 42nd ASEAN Summit, but also in improving the quality of the tourism, environmental and economic sectors in a sustainable manner.
In accordance with the theme, ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth, increasing these facilities through building and greening infrastructure in the area which is the location of the upcoming 42nd ASEAN Summit is one of Indonesia’s commitments to bring ASEAN. Meanwhile, Diana Kusumastuti reported the progress of improving various facilities in the two highlighted areas to the public. The improvement of supporting facilities located in KEK Tana Mori was carried out by the PUPR Ministry through the NTT Regional Settlement Infrastructure Center (BPPW) Directorate General of Cipta Karya and the NTT National Road Implementation Center (BPJN) Directorate General of Highways.
Thus, the report on the increase in supporting facilities has succeeded in reaching 72.26% in the Labuan Bajo Area, while the progress of increasing supporting facilities in the Tana Mori Area is superior, reaching 93.88%. This means that the two areas are ready to be visited by the public, especially during the current Eid al-Fitr 2023 holiday. They can take advantage of the Labuan Bajo Waterfront tour for Eid prayers on yesterday’s Eid to tourist spots.
Regarding this matter, the PUPR Ministry said that they had completed the Waterfront Marina Area which was also inaugurated by President Jokowi in July 2022. One of the areas planned to be used as the venue for the ASEAN Summit series of events, namely Puncak Waringin in Labuan Bajo, was also inaugurated in October 2021.
Meanwhile, in the Tana Mori Area, the work carried out includes the construction of the Roundabout Beach Club, Pier Shelters, installation of geomats on the Tana Mori Area road corridor, arrangement of the roundabout entrance to the ITDC Area and strengthening of slopes and stabilization of plants on the Labuan Bajo – Tana Mori road section which has been was inaugurated by President Jokowi recently, on March 14, 2023 to be precise.
Furthermore, the scope of work being carried out in Labuan Bajo includes the West Manggarai Police Headquarters, the arrangement of the Labuan Bajo Marina Promenade Zone 4, the improvement of the landscape quality of the Labuan Bajo road corridor, the arrangement of the VVIP parking lot for the West Manggarai Regent’s office, the arrangement of roads and sidewalks Sp. Binongko-Sp.Sylvia (Waecicu Street), and the median arrangement of Jalan Yohanes Sehadun (in front of Komodo Airport).
Not only that, there is also a water conservation development by the Ministry of PUPR which is located between Labuan Bajo to Tanamori, namely in Warloka Village, Komodo District. The name is Embung Anak Munting. This water conservation has a water holding capacity of 159,481.10 m3 and an inundation area of 4.5 hectares with the main function for conservation and supporting tourism in the Labuan Bajo Super Priority Tourism Destination (DPSP) in the framework of the ASEAN Summit.
Based on the latest report, the physical progress of the Anak Munting Reservoir construction has reached 80%. According to PUPR Ministry spokesperson Endra S. Atmawidjaja, this construction is indeed a water harvesting technique that is very suitable for dry areas and supports DPSP. In addition, the Embung itself also functions to accommodate and guarantee the availability of water as a community need both during the dry and rainy seasons.
In fact, according to Spokesman Endra’s observations, the corridor leading to Golo Mori has a very beautiful landscape so that in the future it will attract more attention and be visited by domestic and foreign tourists. Moreover, during the implementation of the 2023 ASEAN Summit, it will become an event for the promotion of the NTT region, especially Labuan Bajo, so that it goes global.
It’s only a matter of days until the 42nd ASEAN Summit 2023, to be precise, it’s less than two weeks until the event starts until now the Government of Indonesia under the leadership of President Jokowi continues to make intensive preparations to welcome the event. In accordance with the theme, namely, ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth in Labuan Bajo through the Ministry of PUPR, continues to improve the quality of tourism, the environment and the economy in a sustainable manner in order to promote the NTT region and the success of the ASEAN Summit 2023. )* The author is a Persada Institute
