Swiss firm develops marine reserve park

Swiss firm develops marine reserve park

JAKARTA (JP): Sulawesi will soon have another marine reserve garden in Tomia, Southeast of the island, in addition to the Bunaken sea park near Manado, North Sulawesi.

The new sea park is being developed by the Impac Group of Switzerland on this 115-square-kilometer island about 432 kilometers from Kendari, the capital of Southeast Sulawesi.

The island which is also known as Tomea is located in the Tukang Besi waters in Buton regency.

A director of the Impac Group, Loarenz Maedar, said in Kendari that the sea park in Tomia would attract both Indonesian and foreign tourists as it has unique assets compared with other marine reserves in the country.

"Tomia has aquatic sponges, corals and vertebrates," Antara news agency quoted Maedar as saying.

He said that his company would provide environmental tourism in Tomia, offering visitors scuba diving and snorkeling as well as traditional arts and cultures.

The Swiss company has launched a series of overseas promotions for the marine reserve in Tomia and expects to see the first tourist arrivals later this year.

The business group has also set up a travel agent in Bau-Bau, the capital of Buton regency, in cooperation with two organizations, the SAMA and YADI foundations.

The SAMA foundation will guide the indigenous Bajoe people in Tomia in supporting the marine environment preservation program, while the YADI foundation will provide supporting infrastructures especially for transportation. (icn)