REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SENTANI -- Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono here on Thursday officially inaugurated the seventh Lake Sentani Festival.

The Lake Sentani Festival was part of a series of activities prior to the international maritime event, Sail Raja Ampat, which will be organized on August 22-23, the minister remarked.

"I am pleased to welcome the implementation of the Lake Sentani Festival. Hopefully, this event will become an annual event that can help preserve and promote Indonesia's art and cultural heritage existing in Papua," he added.

Laksono also hoped that the festival will be able to attract more domestic and foreign tourists to Papua and West Papua provinces.

"I hope there will be a direct international flight to Jayapura in the near future," the minister stated.

The minister praised the natural scenic beautiful around Lake Sentani, which is located in a mountainous area.

West Papua Governor Abraham O. Atururi and Jayapura District Head Mathius Awoitouw were present at the opening ceremony, among several others.

The district head emphasized that the festival showcased the government's commitment to ensuring that both the past and present culture of Papua are kept alive.

Chris Tokoro, the chairman of the organizing committee, noted that the festival is being held between June 19 and 23, 2014.

The festival's opening ceremony featured traditional Isosolo dance on boats and painting on a 100-meter-long tree bark.