BITUNG GEARS UP FOR LEMBEH FESTIVAL

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 29 (Antara) - Locals in the Bitung City in North Sulawesi are all excited as they await the parade of decorated ships, a highlight of the Lembeh Strait Charm Festival (FPSL) to be held from October 6-10, 2016.         The decorated ships' parade will be a highpoint of the festival in the strait separating the Lembeh Island with the mainland Bitung in North Sulawesi.         "Besides a ship parade, there will also be maritime cultural attractions aimed at promoting the local tourism in the Lembeh Strait," Benny Lontoh, the head of North Sulawesi's Industry and Trade Service, said in Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi, on Thursday.         As the Lembeh festival draws near, the local government and officials are now busy making preparations. The annual FPSL festival will be the sixth to be held in the Bitung City. In the past, the festival remained largely local and was more or less an expression of thanksgiving.         The festival used to involve fishermen who ply their trade in the strait. However, this year, it has assumed international dimensions and will be noticed globally.         "We are now paying great attention to the tourism sector because we are convinced it can help in attaining sustainable economic growth," Benny Lontoh added.

LEMBEH STRAIT FESTIVAL TO PROMOTE BITUNG TOURISM

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 14 (Antara) - Indoenesia's Bitung district in North Sulawesi could serve as a hub to develop tourism in the country's eastern region.          Located along the Pacific Rim, Bitung can also serve as an international port hub that could facilitate the development of the Indonesian economic activities and tourism.          Therefore, the regional government of North Sulawesi, particularly Bitung, is now developing its tourism resorts, including Mount Kekewang, and is planning to launch a strait festival, dubbed as the Lembeh Strait Charm Festival 2016.          Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said in Jakarta on Tuesday that he welcomes the plan to launch the festival in an effort to attract more foreign tourists to North Sulawesi, particularly to the Bitung District.          With an intensive campaign launched through this festival, more people would come to know about the Lembeh Strait and it can become a new marine tourism icon for North Sulawesi, according to the minister.