West Manggarai – Chairman of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Ferry Jahang hopes that the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo can have a positive impact on the economy of the local community.
“The people hope that the excitement of the ASEAN Summit can have an impact on the economy of the people of Labuan Bajo,” he hoped.
Ferry said that guests of the ASEAN Summit who did not get accommodation could rent community houses that were considered appropriate. This has been appealed by the regional government, so that residents’ houses may be rented out. Besides houses, people’s cars can also be rented.
“That is the domino effect of holding the ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo,” said Ferry.
According to him, the Central Government and Regional Governments had prepared long before the Summit was held. This is proven by the construction of infrastructure in several places in Labuan Bajo.
“Among them are the multi-purpose construction, road rehabilitation and inner-city drainage, then the development of the Batu Cermin Cave tour, the construction of an MSME center in Puncak Waringin, the construction of a waterfront city, the development of a culinary village, all of which have been prepared,” he explained.
So the holding of the ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo is inseparable from the great attention of the central government, in this case President Joko Widodo, to tourism development in Labuan Bajo.
According to Ferry, the appointment of Labuan Bajo as the venue for the 2023 ASEAN Summit by President Joko Widodo, according to Ferry, is something very extraordinary and it is not easy.
“So there’s nothing wrong if we thank the President for appointing Labuan Bajo as the location for the 42nd ASEAN Summit,” concluded Ferry.
He also revealed that indeed the conditions in Labuan Bajo four years ago and the conditions in the last three years were very much different. In addition to building a number of infrastructures, the government is certainly thinking that local people will not only be spectators at this international event. Ferry hopes that MSMEs and culinary must be prioritized from the local community.
“Hopefully, the President will continue to pay attention to Labuan Bajo, attention in the form of developing resources, improving the quality of services in the region as a super priority destination must also continue to pay attention after the 42nd ASEAN Summit is over,” he said.
In the same vein, TVRI journalist Alexander Hatol also hopes that international events can continue to be held in Labuan Bajo in order to increase community MSMEs to be involved in national and international activities.
“So that international events can continue to be held in Labuan Bajo in order to increase community MSMEs who will be involved in international and national activities,” he said.
On the other hand, Journalist for Online Media, journalflores.com, Gecio Vianna, thanked President Joko Widodo for entrusting Labuan Bajo to host the 42nd ASEAN Summit. This is because the ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo can encourage growth in the tourism and MSME sectors.
“Hopefully, holding the ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo can improve various sectors in Labuan Bajo, more specifically in the tourism and creative industry sectors to encourage MSME players to be competitive,” he said.
