ASEAN Summit sets new standards for Labuan Bajo’s development
Kupang, The Gulf Observer: The 42nd ASEAN Summit, held in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, in May, has set a new standard for tourism development in the future, according to the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority (BPOLBF).
“The ASEAN Summit gave us a new standard that will be our new target in the future. The existing gap will be our current target. Hence, the provision of local quality human resources will bolster the future tourism concept designed for Labuan Bajo,” BPOLBF Director Shana Fatina stated in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, on Monday.
Since Labuan Bajo was designated as one of the 10 “New Bali“destinations in 2016 and one of the five super-priority tourism destinations in 2019, the region has been designed to be an international-level Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) venue, she noted.
The authority head said the need to supply food for eight thousand people during the last ASEAN Summit opened up new-fangled opportunities in the food provision industry for locals.
The food supply chain in Labuan Bajo, right from food production in farms to the food processing phase, should be handled by local entrepreneurs, she emphasized.
Fatina highlighted the need to maintain quality food control to ensure foods consumed by residents and tourists is safe and healthy.
She also drew attention to the importance of collaboration between all stakeholders, from business actors, local communities, academic community, the media, and the government, for managing the world-class tourism destination without disrupting the environment and traditional aspects.
“The ASEAN Summit proves that Labuan Bajo is capable (of hosting it), yet there are many aspects that we need to evaluate and perfect to make our services better,” the BPOLBF head affirmed.
Meanwhile, Fatina noted that the issue of shortages in accommodation in Labuan Bajo will be addressed at the earliest, as over two thousand new accommodation rooms were planned to be developed.
As accommodation development will open new opportunities for residents to embark in the sector, Fatina affirmed that her side would facilitate training and management preparations to ensure its quality.
