REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, KUPANG -- A cultural festival scheduled in Sumba, an island in the eastern Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara, is expected to boost the region's economy, the province's House of Representatives' member, Yunus Takandewa, stated here, Monday.

The island's indigenous woven fabric, "Tenun Ikat" and 1,001 Sandalwood horses will be the two main attractions of the festival, he noted.  Sumba Island, with several megalithic sites, waterfalls, crystal-clear lakes, and white-sand beaches, indeed has various tourism potentials that are yet to be developed, he added. 

Hence, the island needs to improve its infrastructure in order to attract more tourists, Takandewa remarked. "A big event, such as this one, is expected to trigger growth in infrastructure development," he said while referring to the festival. 

Meanwhile, Yucun Lepa, the head of Commission II of the region's House of Representatives, noted that a national event held on the island would be beneficial to the locals.  "The locals need the festival to have a real impact on their well-being," he stated in Kupang, the province's capital city. 

Apart from the Sumba Festival, another major event to be held in the province is the annual cycling race, "Tour de Flores." Similar to the festival, the race event should contribute to boosting the province's economy, he added. "Our tourism sector is quite well-known among several countries, so the government has to further evaluate how far this sector can help to improve the livelihood of the locals," he reiterated.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika