Sempati to link Belitung and Singapore<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Sempati Air and Pecatu Indah Group, both
\ncontrolled by businessman Hutomo (Tommy) Mandala Putra, signed an
\nagreement here yesterday to develop tourism in Belitung, an
\nisland off South Sumatra.<\/p>\n
Sempati's president, Santun Nainggolan, and Pecatu subsidiary
\nPT Putra Ciptawahana Sejati's (Ranati) president, Made G.
\nPutrawan, signed the deal here to improve and develop Belitung's
\ntourism infrastructure.<\/p>\n
\"Sempati is pleased to partner Ranati. Sempati will offer
\ndirect flights between Jakarta, Belitung and Singapore,\"
\nNainggolan said.<\/p>\n
But he could not say when Sempati would start direct flights
\nbetween Belitung and Singapore.<\/p>\n
\"The agreement is based on commercial rationale and not
\nbecause Ranati and Sempati are controlled by the same owner. We
\nwill lose out to other companies, such as Silkair, if we don't
\nstart cooperating right now.\"<\/p>\n
Buluhtumbang airport in Belitung is served only by domestic
\ncarrier Merpati Nusantara. It flies the Jakarta-Tanjung Pandan
\nroute once a day. Merpati also runs Palembang-Tanjung Pandan-
\nPangkalpinang (Bangka island) return services four times a week.<\/p>\n
Ranati is developing a 1,070-hectare resort in Belitung,
\ncalled the Belitung Indah Resort. Pecatu is developing a 650-
\nhectare Pecatu Indah Resort in Bali.<\/p>\n
Putrawan said that construction began in Belitung last
\nJanuary.<\/p>\n
Belitung Indah Resort, the first of its kind on the island,
\nis on the island's north-eastern coast.<\/p>\n
\"We are still looking for investors to develop hotels at the
\nresort. International hotel chains like Club Med and Sheraton
\nhave expressed interest in managing hotels on the island,\"
\nPutrawan said yesterday.<\/p>\n
He said Ranati would promote the resort in Singapore in an
\nattempt to find partners.<\/p>\n
State-owned telecommunications provider PT Telkom has
\ninstalled about 3,000 telephone lines on the island, but there
\nare still few public phones.<\/p>\n
About 4,000 domestic and 500 overseas tourists visited the
\nisland last year, according to Tanjung Pandan administration.
\n(icn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sempati-to-link-belitung-and-singapore-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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