REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, KUPANG -- The East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) branch of the Indonesian Association of Tour Operators (Asita) strongly condemned the raping of a foreign tourist from France. The rapist was presenting himself as a tout guide in Labuan Bajo, Flores.

"We strongly condemn the shameful incident, smearing the reputation of our tourism in NTT especially in Labuan Bajo, which has been named one of the country's main tourist destinations," Abed Frans , chairman of the NTT Asita said here on Thursday.

A foreign female tourist identified as as MB (22) was allegedly raped in Labuan Bajo on Tuesday (June 12) by a man identified as A, who presented himself as a tour guide. The incident took place when MB rode along A on a motorcycle to the Cunca Wulang waterfall.

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Abed said he hoped the local Tour Guide Association (HPI) and the district authorities to handle the case in cooperation with police to find the suspect.

"We are very embarrassed and angry with the incident. Hopefully police would immediately investigate and arrest the man," he said.

Abed said all tour guides in Labuan Bajo should be required to have an official certificate issued by the district authority. He said he was still waiting for report from HPI for clarification of the men who claimed to be a tour guide.

He said he hoped no such incident would occur again as the impact would be bad for the country's tourism industry.

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