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)