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.
"Development of the tourism sector in Parigi Moutong district has been rather sluggish, but with Sail Tomini 2015, this sector will grow rapidly compared to the past years," Parigi Moutong District Head Samsurizal Tombolotutu said recently.
On Sunday (September 13), thousands of residents from various regions in Central Sulawesi packed the beach even one week before the peak event was held on September 19, 2015.
Visitors enjoyed the weather as the sky was cloudy preventing scorching sun rays on the beach where 21.3 hectares with a stretch of 400 meters were transformed into a site for the peak location of Sail Tomini.
"I come here to witness the Sail Tomini event and to see the location which was previously covered with shrubs but now it has become an interesting tourism area," said resident Rian who came from Tomini Sub-district.
On Tuesday (September 15), several Indonesian warships (KRIs) and government vessels conducted a sailing pass rehearsal. KRI Dewa Ruci, KRI Surabaya, several government vessels, and other state-owned ships such as those used in search and rescue operations took part in the sailing pass rehearsal.
Several ships also held an open ship program, which allows visitors to observe the ships from a close distance or even climb aboard them.
Apart from the warship parade exercise, skydivers were also seen conducting an exercise at Kayubura beach, which will serve as the site of the peak event of Sail Tomini 2015.
Skydiving is one of the activities that will enliven the peak event of Sail Tomini 2015, which will be attended by President Joko Widodo.
This year's event will hold special significance compared to the previous events as Sail Tomini 2015 will be graced by eminent guests from friendly countries.
The important guests will include foreign ambassadors assigned in Jakarta. The event will also be attended by at least 12 navy chiefs of friendly countries who are part of a three-day diplomatic tour to the important maritime tourism destinations in Central Sulawesi.
At least five countries have confirmed to dispatch six warships to take part in the sailing pass along with Indonesian navy ships.
According to Samsurizal Tombolotutu, Sail Tomini main's event will be preceded by the "Mompaura" traditional ceremony and Archipelago Cultural Parade on September 12.
The main event of Sail Tomini will also be witnessed by foreign guests and will also be highlighted with a sailing pass of warships by the Indonesian Navy and the navies of friendly countries.
Situated some 67 kilometers to the north of Palu (Central Sulawesi¿s provincial capital), Parigi Moutong is famous for an array of spectacular sceneries that enable the tourists and Sail Tomini participants and guests to enjoy pristine sandy beaches and beautiful mountain rainforests located in proximity.
Sail Tomini covers such events as the Boalemo Festival in Gorontalo province, an internaional yacht rally, the Surya Baskara Jaya healthcare operation, a village development movement, national seminars, a diplomatic tour and a Tomini Bay research expedition.
Some 100 foreign yachters from various countries were recorded to take part in Sail Tomini 2015. Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister, Susi Pudjiastuti, previously expressed the hope that the event will help promote tourism in Central Sulawesi and Gorontalo.
Bordering Gorontalo, North Sulawesi and Central Sulawesi, Tomini Bay, Indonesia's second-largest after Cendrawasi Bay in West Papua, is considered to be the center of diversity of marine fauna between the Indian and Pacific oceans.
Among the marine fauna in Tomini Bay are some six species of dolphins as well as two species of whales and whale sharks, which often frolic in the water.
The six-million-hectare Tomini Bay has a coral area measuring 1,031 ha and a mangrove forest covering an area of 785.10 ha. "No wonder Tomini Bay is being developed as the main maritime tourism destination and a national food barn," Minister Maharani said in a statement.
According to Central Sulawesi Governor Longki Djanggola, Sail Tomini will have a significant impact on the development of Central Sulawesi and will help promote its tourism sector, boost industrialization and accelerate economic growth.
"I believe that after Sail Tomini 2015, maritime industrial investment in the Gulf of Tomini, particularly in the fisheries and tourism sectors will increase by at least two-fold," Governor Djanggola remarked recently.
After all, according to Haswan Yunas, a deputy to the coordinating minister for culture and human Resource development, the Sail Tomini main event's site is built at a cost of some Rp30 billion.
The main event site is strategically located because it is at the heart of the Sulawesi island and intersects with the Trans-Sulawesi road, which connects with the rest of the provincial capital cities on the Sulawesi island.***1***(T.A014/o001)
(T.A014/A/BESSR/O. Tamindael) 16-09-2015 08:39:3 |
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