Bokori Charm Festival Included In Annual Tourism Calendar

BOKORI CHARM FESTIVAL INCLUDED IN ANNUAL TOURISM CALENDAR Jakarta, March 20 (Antara) - The government of Southeast Sulawesi Province has included the Bokori Charm Festival in its special annual tourism calendar to promote Bokori Island as one of the mainstay tourist destinations in the province. Bokori Island has a scenic beach where visitors can escape the heat of the sun by relaxing and unwinding under the numerous coconut trees lining the area. Bokori Island continues to attract more tourists who are keen to explore its beauty and history which explains why some historians have also visited it. The Southeast Sulawesi governor including the Bokori Charm Festival into its special annual tourism calendar is testament to the fact that the world has acknowledged Bokori Island as one of the islands ideal for holidaying. Southeast Sulawesi Tourism Office Chief Syahruddin Nurdin remarked in the provincial city of Kendari on Monday that the inclusion of the tourist destination in the special annual tourism calendar is set to further promote Bokori Island. Nurdin noted that the local government has built various facilities and infrastructure on the island to attract both local and foreign visitors. "The Bokori Charm Festival offers the necessary momentum to introduce leading tourist destinations, including Bokori Island in Southeast Sulawesi, to a broader audience, especially to foreign tourists," Nurdin remarked. He also invited all those who had earlier visited Bokori Island to participate in promoting the beauty of the island through print, electronic, and social media. With its scenic beauty, warm waters, and white sandy beaches, Bokori Island is an ideal getaway in Southeast Sulawesi Province for tourists and local residents to unwind. Southeast Sulawesi Tourism and Creative Economy Office Chief Zainal Koedoes remarked in Kendari some time ago that the local government had established the Technical Implementation Unit Service (UPTD) to manage Bokori Island's tourism sector. "As part of our commitment to develop Bokori Island into a tourist destination in the province, we have established a special UPTD to manage the island's tourism sector," Koedoes stated. He noted that the government had allocated significant amount of funds through the state and local budgets to develop Bokori Island's tourism sector to establish the UPTD to ensure the optimal management of funds. Further, Koedoes added that the Southeast Sulawesi provincial government was offering investment opportunities to anyone keen on investing in Bokori Island's tourism sector. "We are offering wider opportunities for anyone who would like to invest in the development of tourism on Bokori Island," he remarked in Kendari. Koedoes said the local government, as the facilitator, will prepare initial facilities for investors to boost the economy of the island. "For instance, this year, we have bought a jet ski and banana boat to attract investment in Bokori Island," he stated. Further, he reiterated that the opportunity was wide open to investors keen on developing the tourism sector and creative economy on Bokori Island, which is situated in the district of Konawe. He admitted that Bokori Island was a tourist destination in the region located administratively in Konawe. "Bokori Island is beautiful and serves as one of the main tourist destinations after Wakatobi in Southeast Sulawesi," Koedoes remarked. Koedoes stated in the provincial capital of Kendari on Monday that the local government will this year develop Bokori Island as one of the key tourist destinations in the area. He pointed out that although Bokori Island had been managed for only a year, it was now widely known owing to some activities held on the island, such as the Bokori Island Festival, beach volleyball tournament, and Nusantara King Festival. Koedoes noted that the provincial government had built several cottages and supporting facilities for the tourists on the island of Bokori. He said the Departments of Tourism, Public Works, Transportation, Forestry, Food Security, and Marine and Fisheries were working together to develop Bokori Island into a tourist destination in the province. "There are already 11 cottages, a meeting hall, and gazebo on the island, and this year, we want to increase the number of such facilities," Koedoes remarked. Further, he added that the local Department of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy had allocated funds amounting to Rp4 billion last year to develop numerous supporting facilities on the island. "In principle, each regional working unit will be assigned the responsibility of developing and managing the supporting tourism facilities in an integrated manner on the island of Bokori," he remarked. Apart from the provincial government, the Kendari city administration had also been urged to optimize the management of tourist attractions in the area. Southeast Sulawesi Governor Nur Alam affirmed that Bokori Island will continue to be promoted as a tourist destination in the province. Covered by natural forests and extensive plantations of teak and ironwood, vast swathes of the Southeast Sulawesi Province are ideal for visitors who prefer challenging adventures and ecotourism. In addition, there are several diving and snorkeling spots around the province, such as in Tolitoli, Hari Island, Baubau, Labengki Island, and Wakatobi Marine National Park. With its numerous tourist attractions, the Southeast Sulawesi provincial government is now focusing on developing its tourism sector as an important source of foreign exchange and employment. The rapid expansion of the province's tourism sector is expected to provide viable opportunities for sustainable development and poverty alleviation. In the meantime, member of the Kendari Regional Legislative Assembly Yasin Idrus stated that all tourist destinations in Southeast Sulawesi and Kendari must be managed optimally in order to boost the local revenue. He pointed out that the revenue generated locally from Kendari's tourism sector was still low despite the city's huge tourism potential. "Hence, the city administration should optimize the management of the area's tourism potential," he emphasized. Visitors to Southeast Sulawesi can enjoy various tourist attractions, such as the Moramo Waterfalls, Batugong Beach, Nambo Beach, Tanjung Taipa Beach, and Maleo Bird Habitat.