SWB 2011 to become biggest international marine event

Antara News, Otniel Tamindael, Sat, May 7 2011

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Themed "The Ocean for Future Life," Sail Wakatobi-Belitung 2011 (SWB 2011) is expected to be the biggest international marine event in Indonesia after Sail Banda 2010 and Sail Bunaken 2009.

During the SWB 2011, two of Indonesian paradise islands besides Bali, namely Wakatobi and Bangka Belitung will be presented to foreign tourists who have been quite familiar with the island resort of Bali.

In a bid to make the upcoming event a great success, Southeast Sulawesi Governor Nur Alam has called on all related government agencies in the province to fully support it.

"I call on all related parties to help make the Sail Wakatobi-Belitung 2011 a great success," Governor Nur Alam told all district heads and mayors at a preparatory meeting for the event at his office in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi on Wednesday.

For him, the SWB 2011 will be the greatest international marine event ever held in Indonesia after Sail Bunaken 2009 in North Sulawesi and Sail Banda 2010 in Maluku.

Sail Bunaken 2009 was held from August 12 to 20, 2009 in North Sulawesi and participated in by 28 warships, a number of fighter planes, and 165 yachts from at least 30 countries which joined an International Fleet Review.

A year later, Sail Banda was organized in Maluku from July 24 to August 17, 2010 when Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfara Agung Laksono flagged off 49 of 106 foreign yachts at Cullen Bay in Darwin, Australia, to mark the start of Sail Banda international yacht rallies.

The Sail Wakatobi-Balitung 2011 yacht rally will start from Darwin Australia on July 23, and the participants will pass 21 districts and cities in Indonesia until finish in Singapore.

Governor Nur Alam said the event with various marine activities would be a precious opportunity to promote the regional potential including Wakatobi as the center of the world coral reefs triangle with underwater paradise.

Therefore the governor called on all district heads and mayors in the province to prepare various facilities and infrastructure for the international marine event.

Meanwhile, Southeast Sulawesi Marine and Fisheries Department spokesman Abdul Salam said that various activities such as Surya Baskara Jaya health operation, exhibitions, maritime shipping traffic, and international seminars would be conducted as part of Sail Wakatobi-Belitong 2011.

In addition, Abdul Salam said the event would also be enlivened undersea mass wedding activity, undersea photo taking competition, and culture and art competition in each district.

He said Sail Wakatobi-Belitung 2011 was a national program and therefore it should run as planned.

For the success of the international marine event, the 50-kilometer Wangi-wangi ring road in Wakatobi will soon be asphalted before President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s visit to the district to open the event in August this year.

In addition, three docks, namely Wangi-wangi, Kaledupa, and Pulau Tomia in the district, have been fixed for the international marine event.

Wakatobi Transportation Department head Syarifuddin said in the Southeast Sulawesi provincial city of Kendari recently that the

repair of the three piers would cost around Rp70 billion from the state budget through the Transportation Ministry.

"The funds have been disbursed and the work to fix the three quays is expected to be completed by the end of July this year," Syarifuddin said.

According to him, the quays would be used by the participants of event and the divers from around the world.

Besides, they will also be used by naval ships to conduct a so-called Surya Baskara Jaya health operation.

Especially for the Wangi-wangi pier, Syarifuddin said it would be used by the sail participating yachts to moor and a command post.

Meanwhile, head of Wakatobi Public Works Agency, Tawakal, said in Kendari that the project of Wangi-wangi ring road was expected to be completed early August before the arrival of President Yudhoyono and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono to open the Sail Wakatobi-Belitung.

To welcome the Sail Wakatobi-Belitung event in which world-class divers will take part, Tawakal said the Wakatobi district government and the local people have started to prepare cultural attractions of

Kabuenga, Bangka Mbule-mbule, and Karia to entertain the participants of the international marine event.

Besides, the participants of Sail Wakatobi-Belitung 2011 and the divers from around the world are expected to have a great opportunity to go diving in magnificent diving facilities at Wakatobi Marine National Park.

As stunning as Wakatobi, Bangka Belitung is also blessed with beaches having blue sea waters, coral reefs, fine white sand, and giant granite rock formations awaiting the SWB 2011 participants.

Belitong exotic beaches include Tanjung Kiras beach, Tanjung Pendam beach, Tanjung tinggi, Tanjung Kelayang, Tanjung Binga fisherman village, Panyaeran beach, Tanjung Kubu, Gembira bay and Tanjung Ru, which are ideal sites for diving, scuba, snorkeling, fishing and sailing.

The island also has other tourist attractions such as Golf Babute driving course, Lengkuas island, Gurok Beraye waterfall, Batu Baginde hill, Tirta Marundang natural pool and Dayang Seri Pinai Pool.

Meanwhile, the marine affairs and fishery ministry`s director general of marine and fishery resources surveillance Syahrin Aburrahman said the SWB 2011 would be highlighted with six main activities, namely a yacht rally, a Bhakti Surya Bhaskara Jaya civic mission, national and international seminars on marine and fishery resources management, a youth marine event, and marine and fishery product exhibition.

Abdurrahman said the Bhakti Surya Baskara Jaya civic mission would be held in Riau Island Province, Bangka Belitung Province, West Kalimantan Province, Gorontalo Province, Southeast Sulawesi Province, and South Sulawesi Province.

"After successfully breaking two world diving records during Sail Bunaken 2009 and Sail Banda 2010, Sail Bunaken-Belitung 2011 will be highlighted with underwater chess games trying to break another world record," he said said.

Editor: Jafar M Sidik

District administrations told to prepare for Sail Belitong

Antara News, Thursday, October 7, 2010 17:07 WIB

Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung (ANTARA News) - Bangka Belitung province Eko Maulana Ali called on district administrations in the province to prepare themselves for Sail Belitong 2011.

"I called on the district administrations to prepare themselves for Sail Belitong 2011 as various activities will be held in different districts in the province in support of the upcoming international event," the governor said here Thursday.

He said however greater scale activities were expected to be held in Bangka as it provides better accommodation and transportation facilities.

"Several activities will be held in Pangkalpinang city and Sungailiat, Bangka. Meanwhile, and the event was expected to be recorded in the Guiness Book of Records," he said.

According to him, an under-water chess game is now being prepared and also expected to be recorded in the Guiness Book of Records.

"Supporting activities for Sail Belitong will have been promoted early in 2011 to make people aware of the international event whose peak program will take place in November next year," he said.

With Sail Belitong 2011, more foreigners are expected to visit Bangka Belitung, he added.

"If more foreigners visit Bangka Belitung, the local economy would grow further because the visitors will include businesspeople who would invest their capital in the province," he said.

He cited as an example the Visit Babel (Bangka Belitung) Archi 2010 has attracted investors in star-rated hotels.

"Hotel Novotel is the only five-star hotel in Bangka Belitung a proof that investors are confident in investing big capital there," he said.

After Sail Belitong 2011, Eko said his administration would think of other programs in 2012 so that Bangka Belitung will continue holding international events.

"Sail Belitong is expected to attract more tourists and investors so that Bangka Belitung could hold more international events in 2010," he said.

Buleleng welcomes Sail Indonesia yachts

Alit Kartarahardja, The Jakarta Post, Lovina, Buleleng | Wed, 09/22/2010 10:39 AM

More than a hundred yachts from 19 countries are expected to arrive in Buleleng regency on Sept. 22 as one of many port calls for Sail Indonesia 2010.

Buleleng cultural office head Putu Tastra Wijaya told reporters that he had received confirmation from the organizing committee that all 106 yachts participating in the international maritime event would spend four days of their three-month journey, from Sept. 22 to 25, at Lovina Beach.

The annual event was organized by the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, the Culture and Tourism Ministry, provincial governments and the Cinta Bahari Foundation to promote Indonesia as a maritime country and to showcase the country’s cultural and marine wealth.

Sail Indonesia participants departed from Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, on July 24. The yachts stopped to participate at a series of events and cultural festivals at ports throughout Indonesia, including Timor, Banda, Ambon, Buton, Lembata, Wakatobi, Flores, Sulawesi, Bali, Java, Kalimantan and Belitung. The flotilla will continue from Bali to the voyage’s last stop in Batam, Riau Islands; which is just south of Singapore.

Event organizers added port calls at Rote Ndao in East Sumba, and at Saba and Bau Bau. The sailors are expected to visit 22 provinces and regencies during the voyage.

Wijaya said that Buleleng administration has already prepared to cultural and tourist activities to welcome more than 400 Sail Indonesian 2010 participants.

“This is a valuable promotional activity for Buleleng regency. We will take them to visit several tourist sites in North Bali,” he said.

He added that the arrival of Sail Indonesia 2010 vessels would also benefit the regency’s economy as they would stay at local hotels and spend money on food.

If each participant spends US$50 per day, Buleleng would reap Rp 5 billion ($560,000) during the four-day visit, he said.

Sixteen provinces to compete in Ambon Nat`l Sailing Championship

Antara News, Friday, May 7, 2010 13:46 WIB

Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA News) - At least 16 provinces have expressed readiness to participate in a National Sailing Championship 2010 in Maluku from July 20 - August 2 this year.

"Some 16 provinces have registered to take part in the event," local Indonesia Sailing Federation (Porlasi) spokesperson Hellen de Lima said here on Friday.

She said the provinces which had registered to participate in the event were among others Aceh, East Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, Southeast Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, East Java, and Jakarta.

According to Hellen, all kinds of competition in the National Sailing Championship would be conducted in Baguala Bay in Ambon`s Baguala subdistrict where a similar event also took place in 2006.

Based on a research and evaluation conducted by Porlasi, Baguala Bay was an appropriate venue for sailing and other water sports competitions because of its strategic location and favorable wind conditions.

"In addition, the local communities on the coasts of the bay will be able to witness the sailing competition from close by," Hellen said.

She said Porlasi was at present coordinating with the Indonesian Navy to borrow a ship to transport the sailing equipment of the competition participants from their respective provinces to Ambon.

"We are coordinating with the Navy chief of staff to get hold of a warship to transport the sailing equipment and other gear of the participants from their respective provinces to Ambon," Hellen said.

She said Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu had asked Porlasi to conduct the National Sailing Championship in Baguala Bay in Ambon in conjunction with the upcoming international marine event of Sail Banda 2010 scheduled from June 12 - August 17 this year.

Therefore, Hellen expressed hope that all elements of the public in the province would support the event and make it a success.

"The people of Ambon in particular and Maluku in general are expected to be good hosts by showing their hospitality to the participants of the event," she said.

Maritime minister planning Sail Lombok-Sumbawa 2012

Antara News, Friday, May 7, 2010 14:05 WIB

Lombok Barat, W Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad has made Sail Lombok-Sumbawa 2012 part of his program to support development of the tourism sector in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province.

"It will be West Nusa Tenggara`s turn to host an international marine event, namely Sail Lombok-Sumbawa, in 2012," Fadel Muhamad said in the company of Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik after harvesting Lombok pearl cultivation product at Senggigi resort on Thursday.

The pearl harvest was part of Lombok Sumbawa Pearl Festival 2010 which was centered at Sentosa Hotel on Senggigi tourist resort in Lombok Barat district.Fadel said the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry would continue to organize continuous sail event every year.

Last year was Sail Bunaken event in North Sulawesi and this year the similar event would be conducted in Maluku as Sail Banda 2010, next year it would probably be moved to Central Sulawesi as Sail Togean 2011, and in 2012 it will be called Sail Lombok-Sumbawa 2012 in West Nusa Tenggara.

Head of the Central Sulawesi cultural and tourism office Suaib Djafar said in Palu late last month that the office would organize Sail Togean 2011.

Djafar said the Central Sulawesi provincial administration would learn from the experiences of North Sulawesi in organizing `Sail Bunaken` and Maluku which would hold `Sail Banda`.

The Togean island chain is an ecological wonder located in Tojo Una-Una districy Central Sulawesi, about a 10-hour`s journey from Palu, the province`s capital.

Meanwhile, West Nusa Tenggara Governor Zainul Madji said he would continue to make things ready for the implementation of Sail Lombok-Sumbawa 2012.

He said the provincial administration would make every effort to improve supporting facilities of electricity, clean water, and telecommunication for the international marine event in the province.

"Besides hosting Sail Lombok-Sumbawa 2012, West Nusa Tenggara will also be ready to organize International Seaweed Forum in the same year," the NTB governor said.

Hundreds to take part in Sail Indonesia

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 04/27/2010 4:27 PM

www.sailindonesia.net

Around 220 participants from 22 countries across the world have confirmed their participation in the 10th of Sail Indonesia, which will start on July 24.

According to the annual sailing rally’s official website www.sailindonesia.net, the participants will depart from Darwin, Australia, and enter Indonesia through Kupang, the capital of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

Provincial tourism agency official Ubaldus Gogi told tempointeraktif.com on Tuesday the participants would visit Rote Ndao, Alor, Sikka, Nagekeo, Ende, South Central Timor and Labuan Bajo.

After spending a few days in Kupang, some the participants would take part in the Sail Banda in Maluku, while some others would visit Bali.

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Sail Banda 2010 officially launched in Ambon

Antara News, Otniel Tamindael, Saturday, April 17, 2010 14:17 WIB

Jakarta, (ANTARA News) - The eagerly awaited international marine event of Sail Banda 2010 has been officially launched by Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad at the scenic eastern Indonesian city of Ambon.

At the ceremony in Ambon on Friday night, Minister Fadel Muhammad called on all parties to support the event and make it a success.

"Information about the official launch of Sail Banda 2010 tonight has been disseminated within both the Indonesian and international communities in Indonesia and around the world," Fadel Muhammad said.

He said the event was named Sail Banda because the Banda islands bear particular historic meaning with countless relics lying scattered across the islands, serving as reminders of the days when Banda was once a major producer of a valuable commodity over which ancient world powers fought protracted wars.

Spices, more specifically nutmeg, mace and cloves, were assets that elevated the Banda islands in the 16th century to the position of the world`s most valuable piece of real estate.

Spice traders from across the globe set out in search of the original Spice Islands, in the hope of returning home with a cargo of the exotic riches.

"In the past Banda was known worldwide as the Spice Islands," said Fadel Muhammad, the chairman of the Sail Banda national committee.

He said Sail Banda was organized with the strategic objective of promoting the undersea natural beauty of Indonesia, especially in Maluku, which is found nowhere else in the world.

The maritime affairs and fisheries minister said that with its stunning natural beauty, the Maluku islands would be promoted through the Sail Banda event in a bid to turn them into a world-class marine tourism resort in the future.

"Sail Banda is scheduled to last from June 12 to August 17, 2010," Fadel said, adding that it would be participated in by around 200 yachts from various countries.

"Sail Banda`s peak event will coincide with the commemoration of the 65th anniversary of Indonesian independence at the outlying island of Kisar island in Southwest Maluku (MBD) district," Fadel added.

Meanwhile, Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu on the occasion said Sail Banda was expected to be of the greatest advantage imaginable to all people of Maluku which is also known as "the province of one thousand islands."

"This international marine event will be an immense contribution to various social aspects of the people of Maluku in particular, and the people of Indonesia in general," Ralahalu said.

According to Governor Ralahalu, the international marine event of Sail Banda 2010 would be a stepping stone to accelerate the pace of social and economic development in the province.

"The acceleration of development in Maluku is stipulated in the regional medium-term development plan 2011-2013 to build a prosperous, harmonious, religious, and self-reliant province," Governor Ralahalu said.

He said the presence of both domestic and foreign tourists from various countries, as well as the participants of Sail Banda 2010 would contribute to a short term economic advantage for the people in the province.

The long-term advantage of the international marine event, according to the governor, was the promotion of Maluku`s natural resources and tourism potentials to various investors.

"The success of Sail Banda is expected to convince the international community that the once conflict-torn province is now perfectly safe and peaceful, making it fit for both domestic and foreign tourists to visit," Ralahalu said.

Prior to the Sail Banda event, Minister Fadel Muhammad was to try to facilitate the presence of American research vessel "Okeanos Explorer" in Maluku to research the condition of the sea and marine biological resources in the province.

"I will make representations for the American research vessel `Okeanos Explorer` to sail to Maluku in June 2010," the maritime affairs and fisheries minister said after launching Sail Banda.

The Okeanos Explorer would bring a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) mission to study the Indonesian seas and their problems.

"Thus, concurrently with Sail Banda which will be held from June 12 to August 17, 2010, the NOAA mission will be encouraged to go to Maluku waters to discover the rich marine biological resources in the region," Fadel said.

Known as "America`s ship for ocean exploration," the Okeanos Explorer is a new type of research vessel that will travel around the globe to map the sea floor and characterize largely unknown areas of the ocean.

Since 95 percent of the ocean including that in Maluku is still unexplored, the Okeanos Explorer is going to help change that.

Interesting seafloor features can be discovered with the deep water multibeam sonar mapping system.

Sites will be further explored with the ship`s Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), which can travel down to a depth of 6,000 meters.

Images and high-definition video from the underwater vehicles will be sent from the vehicle to the ship to the shore in real-time. This technology is referred to as "telepresence."

Therefore, Fadel Muhammad was sure that the American research ship would also support the government`s program to proclaim Maluku as Indonesia`s main source of marine resources by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on August 3, 2010.

"Maluku waters according to the results of research have very great resources of pelagic and demersal fish, reaching 1.64 million tons per year, but only 300 thousand tons exploited each year," Fadel said.

He believed that if the marine resources are truly exploited to the extent of 500 thousand to 700 thousand tons per year, they will give a strategic contribution to accelerated development in Maluku.

"It would be even more strategic if the marine potentials are supported by the development of seaweed which the Maluku provincial administration has declared as a leading commodity," Fadel said.

"Surya Baksara Jaya" operation to be conducted in Ambon

Antara News, Thursday, April 1, 2010 14:45 WIB

Ambon (ANTARA News) - A health services provision program dubbed "Operation Surya Baksara Jaya" will be conducted at seven villages in Ambon July 29-August 3, in conjunction with the international marine event Sail Banda 2010.

"A similar program as part of Sail Banda 2010 will also be conducted in Banda Neira, Central Maluku district at the same time," Sail Banda local committee chairman Cak Saimima said here on Thursday.

He said the health operation activity by using floating hospital would be conducted at Mamala, Morella, Liang, Waai, Tulehu, Passo, and Hutumuri villages on the island of Ambon.

"The Surya Baksara Jaya health operation will be supported by the biggest United States Navy floating hospital USNS MERCY T-AH19," Saimima said.

Technically and aesthetically, the 273-meter long USNS MERCY T-AH19 with 955 medical personnel and doctors is arguably the most sophisticated vessel in its class to assist KRI Dr Soeharso in giving medical services to the people of Maluku.

Saimima said that the so-called Sailing Medical Service (SMS) program would also help the people in the districts of Buru Selatan, West Southeast Maluku (MTB), and Southwest Maluku (MBD) from April to August 2010.

"A health simulation program will be conducted in Ambon, Banda Neira, and MBD district town of Wonreli in Kisar island from July 1 to August 10," Saimima said.

He said naval ships from Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia would be sent to Maluku to support the Surya Baksara Jaya operation in the districts of West Seram, West Southeast Maluku, and Southwest Maluku.

The floating hospital`s operations will be coordinated the health ministry assisted by the Maluku health office and so will be the target areas of the Surya Baksara Jaya operation program.

"We welcome the support from the US, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore in the operation because indirectly they also promote Maluku`s tourism potential and the Sail Banda event," Saimima said.

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Eight locations in NTT await Sail Indonesia participants

Antara News, Monday, March 29, 2010 11:17 WIB

Kupang (ANTARA News) - The participants of Sail Indonesia 2010 will have a stop over at eight scenic locations in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province.

Rote Ndao district head Lens Haning said here on Monday that the Sail Indonesia participants this year would set sail from Darwin, Australia, on July 24, 2010 with a stop over at Kota Kupang, Rote Ndao, Timor Tengah Selatan, Alor, Sika, Ende, Nagekeo, and Manggarai Barat.

"The participants of Sail Indonesia in the previous years did not make a stopover at Rote Ndao but this year the district becomes their new destination," Lens Haning said.

Sail Indonesia 2010 will depart from Darwin on Saturday July 24, 2010, and during the following three months the participants will be served with a series of cultural festivals at different stopovers across Indonesia.

To anticipate Rote Ndao as a new destination for the Sail Indonesia participants, Lens Haning said various preparations have been made to set in order the surfing and diving sites at Nembrala beach.

He said preparation was also made for traditional Sasando music performance and the making of typical souvenirs to attract the participants from different countries and to make their visit pleasant.

In the southernmost Indonesian island and district of Rote Ndao, Haning said the participants would have the opportunity to go surfing and diving at Nembrala and Termanu beaches and to see a number of activities including "sopi" (alcoholic) distilling, palm brown sugar making, traditional "ikat" weaving, and Sasando traditional music performance.

Sail Indonesia is an annual sailing rally now in its tenth year that departs from Darwin in the middle of July and is followed by a three month program of linked events across Indonesia.

After visiting various tourists objects in Kupang and Timor Tengah Selatan for one week, the Sail Indonesian Participants will set sail to Rote Ndao and then on to Alor, Maumere, Labuan Bajo, and Komodo island.

Ambon to host coastal resources management conference

Antara News, Tuesday, March 23, 2010 16:00 WIB

Ambon (ANTARA News) - The 7th National Conference on marine, small islands, and coastal resources management will be organized in the eastern Indonesian city of Ambon on August 3-7, 2010.

Maluku Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Office chief Poli Kayhattu said over his cellular phone from Jakarta on Tuesday that at least two international experts on coastal resources management have confirmed to be the keynote speakers at the conference.

"Two small islands and coastal management experts, respectively from China and Maldives have confirmed to be the keynote speakers at the 7th National Conference on marine, small islands, and coastal resources management in Ambon," Kayhattu said.

He said the conference would be conducted as part of the upcoming international marine event of Sail Banda 2010, scheduled to last from July to August this year.

Kayhattu said that besides the international experts from China and Maldives, Coordinating Minister for Economy Hatta Rajasa and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad would also act as speakers in the conference.

The coastal resources management conference is part of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry`s biennial activity, and the one this year in Ambon is themed, "To Knit the Integration of Marine, Small Islands, and Coastal Resources Management for Food Resilience and People`s Welfare."

According to Kayhattu, the objective of the national conference in Ambon was to increase communication and information exchange in relation with marine, small islands, and coastal resources management for people`s welfare and food resilience.

"The conference will be attended by around 500 people who are expected to optimally formulate a new coastal resources management strategy to improve the local people`s welfare," Kayhattu said.

He expressed optimism that the 7th National Congress which had been conducted since 1998 would run well and successfully because various preparations were currently being made for the event.

Maluku to build win-win cooperation with neighboring countries

Antara News, Monday, March 15, 2010 14:53 WIB

Ambon (ANTARA News) - Sail Banda 2010 is expected to be the "Entry Point" for Maluku province to build win-win cooperation with neighboring countries.

Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu said here on Monday that the upcoming international marine event would be the entry point for the province to knit a win-win cooperation with neighbor countries such as Australia, Timor Leste, and Papua New Guinea (PNG).

"I have just returned from Australia and Papua New Guinea to accompany President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in his state visit to the two countries," Governor Ralahalu said.

The governor said that during the visit, Sail Banda event got positive support from the Australian and Papua New Guinean leaders when President Yudhoyono explained it to them in a dialog.

Ralahalu said Sail Banda 2010, scheduled for July to August this year, would be an event to improve the welfare of local people and to create peaceful and free-conflict zones in the province in the future.

Various kinds of international activities will coincide with Sail Banda event which is to be attended by hundreds, even thousands of experts and scientists from many countries.

Governor Ralahalu admitted that in his visit to Australia to accompany President Yudhoyono, he did not have time to explain Sail Banda directly to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, but in a diplomatic talks between Yudhoyono and Rudd, it was mentioned and would be discussed further.

"I did not have time to discuss Sail Banda with the Australian prime minister but I did with Papua New Guinean Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, and the PNG leader promised to visit Maluku next August. I also reported it to President Yudhoyono and the president has as well officially invited Somare to visit Maluku during the Sail Banda event," Ralahalu said.

He said the PNG prime minister was glad to meet with the governors from eastern Indonesia and promised to visit Maluku and other provinces in eastern Indonesia later.

Ralahalu said various international agenda would be discussed in conjunction with Sail Band 2010.

Therefore, the governor called on all public elements in Maluku to fully support the success of Sail Banda 2010.

"We have to be a good host for such an international marine event and to make it a success, because it will have a positive impact on the glory of Maluku in the international eyes," Governor Ralahalau said.

Maluku governor to visit Australia with president

Antara News, Wednesday, February 24, 2010 16:08 WIB

Ambon (ANTARA News) - Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu has been asked to accompany President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during the latter`s visit to Australia on March 13, 2010.

"It will be an honor for Maluku and also an opportunity for Governor Ralahalu to promote Maluku`s potentials in the neighboring country," Maluku provincial administration public relations chief Semmy Huwae said here on Wednesday.

Huwae said Ralahalu would during the visit also extend an official invitation to Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to attend the international marine event of Sail Banda 2010 in Ambon.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who is due to attend the peak event of the international marine activity on August 3, 2010 would at the same time declare Maluku as a national fishery hub.

With vast areas of coral reefs, Maluku is rich in fish and other sea biota, including decorative fish species, and if managed optimally and effectively, its marine resources could bring high economic returns.

Fish species found in Maluku waters include the Black spotted Puffer, Trumpet fish, Anemones, Juvenile Damselfish, Porcupine fish, Ornate Ghost Pipefish, Scorpion Fish, Lizard fish, Moray Eels, Seahorses and Banded Sea Snakes.

President Yudhoyono and his entourage will visit Australia on March 13, 2010, and on the next day March 14, 2010, the head of state will continue to Papua New Guinea where Governor Ralahalu would also hand an official invitation to the PNG prime minister to attend Sail Banda.

"But the visits to Malaysia, Timor Leste, and other countries will be scheduled by the presidential secretariat after the visit to Australia and Papua New Guinea," Semmy Huwae said.

He said the president and central government strongly supported the success of Sail Banda 2010, and therefore Governor Ralahalu and his deputy also called on all parties to support the success of the international marine event in Maluku later.

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Sail Banda to lure thousands of tourists, investors

Antara News, by Bustanuddin, Monday, February 8, 2010 11:07 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The international marine event Sail Banda which will take place in Ambon city, Maluku`s provincial capital in July to August 2010 is expected to attract thousands of foreign tourists.

In efforts to attract around 6,000 tourists to the province, Sail Indonesia featuring the beauty of Maluku Province`s Banda Islands, the local administration would spend at least Rp40 billion to prepare the international event.

The estimated cost was disclosed by Director General of Marine Resources and Fishery Surveillance Aji Sularso at the launching of "Sail Indonesia-Sail Banda" here last Wednesday.

The funds came from Maluku`s provinccial budget and from the marine and fishery ministry and coordinating ministry for social welfare, he said, adding the funds totaling Rp12 billion (US$1=Rp9,420) that the Maluku government had pledged would be used to build the needed facilities.

According to him, the marine and fishery ministry, and the coordinating ministry for social welfare had respectively allocated Rp9.5 billion and more than Rp20 billion to support the various events and social activities involving the local people, and for providing fuel to Indonesian navy`s hospital ship, KRI Dr.Suharso, he said.

Meanwhile Marine and Fishery Minister Fadel Muhammad said Sail Banda was aimed at making Ambon city eastern Indonesia`s main tourist gate and promoting the province`s potentials to the world.

The annual event was also expected to attract foreign investors, including from China, said Muhammad, who is also chairman of the Sail Banda national committee.

"Providing people in the coastal areas with medical services is also the objective of Sail Banda. That`s why, the social welfare minister will come to the targeted areas," he said.

Sharing Muhammad`s views, Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono said Sail Banda was also expected to boost eastern Indonesia`s economic development.

Sail Banda 2010 (official Website)

"By promoting the natural, cultural and historical heritages that the areas have, we boost the growth of the tourism industry in eastern Indonesia," he said.

In the meantime, Sail Indonesia-Sail Banda committee`s official website said that more than 220 updated brochures had been sent to all the yachts, which had been interested in joining the event.

In 2009, Sail Indonesia-Sail Bunaken in North Sulawesi province was participated in by 133 yachts from dozens of other countries from around the world.

Over the past years, the participating international yachts started sailing to Indonesian waters from Darwin, capital of Australian state of Northern Territory.

This year, as explained in the committee`s official website, the first destination was Banda, 500 miles north of Darwin to participate in a series of events that would be held in Maluku and its capital city of Ambon.

The participating skippers are scheduled to leave Darwin on July 24 at 11 am for Banda Sail. They are welcomed with cultural festivals at the different stopovers across Indonesia on the islands of Timor, Banda, Ambon, Buton, Lembata, Wakatobi, Flores, Sulawesi, Bali, Java, Borneo, Belitung and finally Batam or Bintan islands just south of Singapore.

The peak event of Sail Banda is scheduled on August 3. Banda is famous for the beauty and richness of its deep sea, cultural heritage and historical remains.

In the meantime, Army chief of staff, Gen George Toisutta said the army is set to make a success of Sail Banda as the event is the responsibility of the entire nation.

"This is a national program of international level, so that the Army is also responsible for its success in Maluku," he said in Ambon recently.

Meanwhile, Maluku Culture and Tourism office spokesperson, Florence Sahusilawane said on Thursday that accommodation and human resources should be a top priority to lure large numbers of foreign tourists.

"Human resources is on top of our priority and since October last year we have been familiarizing the people to the remotest villages across the province with the event," Sahusilawane said.

Regarding accommodation such as hotels and inns, Sahusilawane said around 2,700 rooms had been prepared at both star-rated and ordinary ones.

"We will also prepare houses for home stay to anticipate the inability of hotels and inns to accommodate all the tourists," Sahusilawane said, adding that tourist guides involving university students would also be trained in the near future.

"At least 40 students of university and tourism schools will be trained as tour guides but their number is still insufficient for around 6,000 tourists who will be coming to Maluku," she added.

To provide the tourists with tour packages, Maluku Culture and Tourism office will also cooperate with the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (Asita), Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI), and the Indonesian Tourist Guides Association (HPI).

"We will also prepare special facilities at hotels and other such accommodations for vendors to sell typical souvenirs from Maluku, because Sail Banda 2010 is a good opportunity for us to introduce typical products from the province to the tourists," Sahusilawane said.

Florence was also optimistic about the promotion of Sail Banda in Europe because the Maluku Museum director in the Netherlands, Dr Huib Akihary, had expressed readiness to help promote the event in European countries.

Apart from that, Bank Indonesia (the central bank) of Ambon branch is to open money changing counters and ATM booths in Banda to support the international marine event.

"Bank Indonesia and a number of other banks such as Bank BRI, Bank Central Asia (BCA), and Bank BNI will also provide services for financial transactions in Banda to support the event," spokesman for the Ambon branch of Bank Indonesia Totok Hermianto said in Ambon on Monday.

Totok said that he had discussed the event with the leaders of the banks operating in Ambon and they agreed to open banking service counters in Banda.

"Foreign tourists visiting Banda, as well as the participants of Sail Banda 2010 will find it easy to make financial transactions following the opening of the banking service counters in Banda during the international event," Totok said.

He expressed hope that the promotion of Sail Banda 2010 would be intensified in order to have a good impact on the Maluku economic development.

Meanwhile, Transportation Ministry Air Transportation director general Herry Bakti said his office was ready to support the Sail Banda 2010.

"In principle, the Transportation Directorate General is ready to support the event," he has said in Bandaneira, Banda, Maluku.

The most important thing is to prepare reliable telephone and Internet infrastructure, and this can facilitate communication and telecommunication so that people would not all have to gather in Ambon if they want to promote Banda," he said.

The national shipping company PT Pelni is also ready to help make the Sail Banda a success by sending more ships there.

Bachtiar, head of PT Pelni`s Ambon branch office, said in Ambon that the national shipping company felt it was also its moral responsibility to support the international event.

Meanwhile, General Manager of state-owned airport managing company, PT Angkasa Pura I of Pattimura airport branch office, Gerits Mailesun said that several airline companies such as Lion Air, Batavia, Sriwijaya and Wings have expressed readiness to provide excellent services to the participants of the international maritime events which will involve an estimated 5,000 people.

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More articles related to Maluku ....

Indonesia officially launches "Sail Banda"

Antara News, Thursday, February 4, 2010 15:41 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The 2010 Sail Indonesia, featuring the beauty of Maluku Province`s Banda Islands, would spend at least Rp40 billions, Director General of Marine Resources and Fishery Surveillance Aji Sularso said.

The funds came from the Maluku province`s budget and those of the marine and fishery ministry and coordinating ministry for social welfare, he said at the launching of "Sail Indonesia-Sail Banda" here Wednesday evening.

The fund totaling Rp12 billions (US$1=Rp9,420) that Maluku government had pledged would be used to provide needed facilities, he said.

According to Aji Sularso, the marine and fishery ministry, and the coordinating ministry for social welfare had respectively allocated Rp9.5 billion and more than Rp20 billion.

The funds would be used for supporting various events and financing social activities involving local people, and fueling the Indonesian navy`s hospital ship, KRI Dr.Suharso, he said.

Meanwhile Marine and Fishery Minister Fadel Muhammad said the Sail Banda was aimed at making Maluku capital of Ambon be eastern Indonesia`s main tourist gate and promoting the province`s potentials to the world.

This annual event was expected to attract foreign investors, including those of China, to the province in the future, said Muhammad, who is also chairman of Sail Banda`s national committee.

"Providing people in coastal areas with health services is also the objective of Sail Banda. That`s why, the social welfare minister will come to the targeted areas," he said.

Sharing Muhammad`s views, Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare Agung Laksono said the Sail Banda was also expected to boost eastern Indonesia`s economic development.

"By promoting the natural, cultural and historical heritages that the areas have, we push the growth of tourism industry in eastern Indonesia," he said.

In another development, the Sail Indonesia-Sail Banda committee`s official website has said that more than 220 information update brochures had been sent to all yachts, which had been interested in joining this event.

Last year, Sail Indonesia-Sail Bunaken was participated in by about 133 yachts from dozens of countries around the world.

Over the past years, the participating international yachts started sailing to the Indonesian waters from Darwin, the capital of Australian state of Northern Territory.

This year, as explained in the committee`s official website, the first destination was Banda, 500 miles north of Darwin to participate in a series of events that would be held in Maluku and its capital city Ambon.

The participating skippers are scheduled to leave Darwin on July 24 at 11 am for Banda Sail. They are welcomed with a series of cultural festivals at the different stopovers across Indonesia on the islands of Timor, Banda, Ambon, Buton, Lembata, Wakatobi, Flores, Sulawesi, Bali, Java, Borneo, Belitung and finally on to Batam or Bintan just south of Singapore.

The peak event of "Sail Banda" is scheduled on August 3. Banda is famous for the beauty and richness of its deep sea, cultural heritage and historical remains.

Related Articles:

Post-conflict Ambon set to host international yacht rallies

Sail Banda projected to attract 6,000 tourists

Maluku community in Netherlands to help promote "Sail Banda 2010"