Manado sees tourism boom

Manado sees tourism boom

MANADO, North Sulawesi: Governor E.E. Mangindaan said North Sulawesi is set for a tourism boom in 1997 following the expansion in international facilities of Manado's Sam Ratulangi airport and Bitung seaport.

Mangindaan said that both the airport and the seaport have been showing increasing activities this past year as they become one of Indonesia's gateways for international tourism.

The governor said his administration will not be involved too much in the tourism sector and allow private companies to tap the potential. The administration's role would be limited to guiding the private sector, he said as reported by Antara.

Besides the marine garden off Manado which is popular among international divers, the region has other potential attractions to offer to tourists, such as the Tondano lake and the traditional fish breeding industry there.

Last year, North Sulawesi received 33,000 foreign visitors, a 35 percent increase over 1994.

The province boasts six star-rated hotels, including the Hotel Paradise Likupang in Manado which the governor will inaugurate later this month. (emb)