The holding of the 2023 ASEAN Summit which will be held in Labuan Bajo in May will certainly be the best momentum to continue to encourage and promote the region to become a super priority tourist destination.
After the success of the Group of Twenty (G20) Presidency event, now Indonesia is again entrusted with playing a very important role and returning to the international arena as well, namely this nation has officially served as the chairmanship of ASEAN 2023 or ASEAN Chairmanship 2023.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations was first formed on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand. ASEAN itself consists of 5 (five) founding countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
It is undeniable that since the founding of ASEAN, many have had a very positive impact, so that the members of the association have continued to increase to as many as 6 (six) more countries, such as Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Timor Leste. With the joining of the six additional countries, now the total members of ASEAN are 11 countries.
Then, the ASEAN Summit (Summit) itself is a summit among the leaders of ASEAN member countries which is held regularly every year. In 2023, Indonesia is again entrusted with holding the chairmanship of ASEAN 2023, not even just once or twice, but the Homeland has in total been chaired 5 (five) times, namely in 1976 (the first ASEAN Summit), 1976, 1996, 2003, 2011 and now 2023.
For information, the 2023 ASEAN Summit will be held in May 2023 in Labuan Bajo, and in September 2023 in Jakarta. As the host, Indonesia carries the big theme ‘ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth’, which means that Indonesia wants to make ASEAN remain important and continue to be relevant to the ASEAN community and even to the world.
This is because Indonesia wants to make ASEAN remain an important region for regional countries and the world. Both play a central role as the engine of peace and prosperity in the region. In addition, Indonesia also wants to make ASEAN a center for regional and world economic growth.
Regarding the holding of the ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, the President of the Republic of Indonesia (RI), Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has reviewed the readiness of the facilities to be used for the event. He admitted that several venues had everything ready.
Furthermore, the President stated that with the holding of the ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, it also aims to promote the super priority tourism destination area (DPSP). Not without reason, because he thinks that the Labuan Bajo area is indeed very good and deserves to be continuously promoted.
On this occasion, the Head of State also ensured that all leaders from countries in ASEAN would also be present at the 2023 ASEAN Summit which will be held in May.
He also hopes that with the inauguration of the Labuan Bajo-Golo Mori road, he will be able to encourage the development of the Labuan Bajo area to become a super priority tourist destination. Not only that, but the completion of the construction of the 25 kilometer (KM) access road will also improve connectivity in the framework of the development of Labuan Bajo.
Previously, President Jokowi himself had chosen Labuan Bajo, the capital of West Manggarai Regency, NTT as the venue for the 2023 ASEAN Summit. In this regard, the Regent of West Manggarai, Edistasius Endi emphasized that currently all road infrastructure leading to the ASEAN Summit location is almost complete. .
It also includes several preparations that have been made, such as the Komodo Airport (Airport) which will be beautified and also the hotel in Labuan Bajo which is even ready to receive visits from the participants of the ASEAN Summit.
Edi Endi said that choosing Labuan Bajo as the host of the ASEAN Summit would have an impact on recovering the tourism industry after being hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Making Labuan Bajo the main location for the ASEAN Summit Summit activities, so that many tourists came to Labuan Bajo.
He said currently the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) had completed upgrading and building a new 25 km road from Labuan Bajo to Tana Mori. The Golo Mori Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is the venue for the ASEAN Summit.
The natural beauty that is owned by Labuan Bajo is indeed a huge potential. Of course, if this cannot be put to good use it will be very unfortunate. Therefore, with the momentum of the 2023 ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, we are also able to continue to push the region to become a super priority tourist destination.
)* The author is Persada Institute
