By: Ahmad Dzul Ilmi Muis)*
The Government of Indonesia has prepared all the completeness of the MICE area, starting from access roads, bridges, clean water to telecommunications networks to support the smooth running of the 2023 ASEAN Summit.
Indonesia’s chairmanship at the 42nd ASEAN Summit (Summit) in 2023 is a very important golden moment to be able to continue the success story of the G-20 Presidency event which was also held by this nation in 2022.
Of course, it is hoped that the success achieved by Indonesia in leading the Group of Twenty (G20) will be repeated again at the 2023 ASEAN Summit, so that the country will again be able to record extraordinary results, both strategic and concrete.
For information, the big theme raised by Indonesia’s chairmanship at the 2023 ASEAN Summit is ‘ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth’, which is Indonesia’s effort to make the Southeast Asian region a stable, safe and also peaceful area and can become a center for economic growth even in the world.
Then, as a form of how serious Indonesia is as the host of the 2023 ASEAN Summit, the President of the Republic of Indonesia (RI), Joko Widodo (Jokowi) conducted a review of several venues used for the 2023 ASEAN Summit in the Golo Mori MICE area, West Manggarai, NTT.
On this occasion, the President even praised the natural beauty of Labuan Bajo, which is the location for this international event. According to him, several venues are already in a condition that is ready to be used.
Furthermore, from a number of these venues, according to the Head of State of the Republic of Indonesia, only a few touches are needed, but what is most important for him is how to be able to promote Labuan Bajo as a super priority destination.
Previously, President Jokowi had inaugurated the 25-kilometer Labuan Bajo – Golo Mori access road. The road was built using a budget of IDR 481 billion. The President hopes that this road can encourage the development of Labuan Bajo as a super priority tourist destination and support the development of the surrounding area.
Meanwhile, Head of the National Road Implementation Agency (BPJN) X NTT, Agustinus Junianto explained that along the access road that was inaugurated by President Jokowi, several bridges had been built with a total length of up to 175 meters.
There are four bridges, namely Naganae Bridge, Wae Mburak Bridge, Wae Kenari Bridge, and also Soknar Bridge. Agustinus assessed that the construction of the access road would cut the travel time from Labuan Bajo to Golo Mori. He added that previously when someone wanted to travel from Labuan Bajo to Golo Mori it took around 3 (three) hours, now they only need 30 minutes.
Not only limited to infrastructure in the form of roads and bridges that have been worked on by the Government of Indonesia in order to realize the smooth running of the ASEAN Summit 2023 event, however, according to the Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) that it has also ensured the readiness of broadband network access with advanced technology to be able to support connectivity in the Golo Mori area, West Manggarai, NTT.
In addition to the telecommunication network, ITDC as the developer of the Golo Mori MICE Area also ensures the availability of clean water in that location during the 2023 ASEAN Summit. Regarding this matter, Director of Human Capital Legal and Compliance ITDC, Wenda R. Nabiel explained that his party had ensured the readiness of the infrastructure including the capacity and quality of the telecommunication network to fulfill the convenience of accessing digital connectivity for all delegates while participating in the series of ASEAN Summit activities.
The readiness of the area for other Meeting, Incentive, Convention and Exhibition (MICE) activities, namely at the Meruorah Komodo Hotel, Labuan Bajo is also being considered. Corporate Secretary of PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry, Shelvy Arifin explained that Hotel Meruorah, which is operated by PT Hotel Indonesia Natour (HIN) is located in the Labuan Bajo Integrated Marina Area, which has been designated by the government as a Super Priority Tourism Destination (DPSP).
This five-star hotel has 145 rooms equipped with a multifunction hall with a capacity of 1,000 people and the commercial area of Plaza Marina Labuan Bajo. The Meruorah multifunction hall is the largest MICE location in Labuan Bajo.
The MICE area is reported to be ready to welcome all visiting delegates at the 42nd ASEAN Summit in 2023 in Labuan Bajo, NTT, Indonesia. Completeness ranging from how to access roads and bridges, including clean water to telecommunication networks have all been carefully prepared by the Indonesian Government to support the smooth running of the event.
)* The author is an Anthropology alumni of Airlangga University
