VISITORS BEGIN FLOCKING TO KAYUBURA BEACH TO WITNESS SAIL TOMINI

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 16 (Antara) - Several days before the main event of Sail Tomini is held, thousands of people have begun to flock to the Kayubura beach in Parigi Moutong District, Central Sulawesi, on Sunday to witness the international sailing event activities.          Preparations for the holding of Sail Tomini 2015 which will peak on the Kayubura beach on September 19 next Saturday, are now 100 percent ready.          Therefore local people and residents from other regions have also begun flocking to the location of the international maritime festivity.      "Since last week, many people from other regions outside Central Sulawesi Province have begun thronging this place to witness the liveliness of Sail Tomini," said Burhan, one of the community leaders in Central Parigi Sub-district, Parigi Moutong, on Tuesday.          He said that some of the visitors came from the provinces of Gorontalo, North Sulawesi, South Sulawesi and West Sulawesi. They hire local residents' houses for a stay until after the main event of Sail Tomini is concluded on September 19.          According to him, the international sailing event contributes a lot to the welfare of people living around Tomini, one of the Indonesia's largest gulfs.      The economic activities of the local people over the past one month had been increasing, Burhan said. The locals take the opportunity to do various kinds of businesses.          Thus, Sail Tomini will boost the region's tourism and improve the welfare of the local people.

SAIL TOMINI EXPECTED TO BOOST SULAWESI'S TOURISM

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 8 (Antara) - The international sailing festival of Sail Tomini, launched in May and scheduled to conclude in Parigi Moutong District, Central Sulawesi, on September 19, is expected to boost tourism in Indonesia's eastern region.         "Tomini Bay is being developed as the main maritime tourism destination," Coordinating Minister for Culture and Human Resource Development Puan Maharani stated during the launch of the sailing event in May.         As Tomini Bay borders the provinces of Gorontalo, Central Sulawesi, and North Sulawesi, the international sailing festival will directly have a positive impact on the development of tourism in the three provinces.         Sail Tomini, which is expected to be attended by 10 thousand guests, includes 24 events, such as the Boalemo Festival in Gorontalo province, a yacht rally, the Surya Baskara Jaya healthcare operation, a village development movement, national seminars, a diplomatic tour, a Tomini Bay research expedition, and visits by media publications.          Some 100 foreign yachters from various countries are expected to participate in Sail Tomini 2015. Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti expressed hope that the event would help to promote tourism in Central Sulawesi and Gorontalo.          Haswan Yunas, Minister Maharani's deputy, had remarked earlier that scores of tourists were expected to attend the event.

SAIL TOMINI TO BRING ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO SULAWESI PROVINCES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 7 (Antara) - The ongoing Sail Tomini, an international yacht rally and festival organized in Indonesia's largest bay of Tomini, will have a long-term economic impact that will attract investment and improve the welfare of the local people.         The international maritime event was launched by the Coordinating Minister for Culture and Human Resource Development, Puan Maharani, in May and will conclude in the Parigi Moutong District Central Sulewesi on September 19.         "I hope investors will see the potential of Central Sulawesi, Gorontalo and North Sulawesi¿s marine, human and natural resources. Indonesia has potential other than Bali, Yogyakarta and others," Minister Maharani had said after a ministerial coordination meeting held in Jakarta in June.         The Tomini Bay borders the three provinces of Sulawesi, namely Central Sulawesi, Gorontalo and North Sulawesi.         "Sail Tomini should not be reduced to a mere ceremony. We must ensure that this event can be beneficial for the improvement of public welfare and boost economic progress in the provinces and the nation in the long term," Maharani stated after launching the event.