Tondano festival opens next week

MANADO, North Sulawesi: The province is bracing itself for next week's Rp 3 billion (US$1.2 million) four-day Tondano Cultural Festival.

The festival to be held on the banks of the renowned Tondano Lake near Paleloan Village will be opened by the Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunication Joop Ave, on Oct. 31.

North Sulawesi governor E.E. Mangindaan said the government needed Rp 3 billion to build the infrastructure and facilities on the six hectare area.

The money was donated by local businesses and by businesses in Jakarta.

"We are racing against time to complete the preparatory work," he said, reported Antara over the weekend.

The local government's publicity campaigns in the U.S and Europe have attracted attendance confirmations from at least 400 people, Mangindaan said.

About 30 ambassadors from Jakarta have also expressed interest in attending the event, he added. (pan)