REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, LABUAN BAJO - The European Union has budgeted 5 trillion IDR, or about 413 million USD for eco-tourism development programs in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, according to European Union Ambassador to Indonesia, Olof Skoog, on Friday.
An eco-tourism network had been built in five villages in West Manggarai and Ngada Districts, he added.
"This cooperation has been on since 2013, and today I have an opportunity to visit Labuan Bajo," the Ambassador said.
The eco-tourism program, funded by 28 European countries, would end in 2015 with a target to improve people's welfare in the tourism sectors, he explained. The development of the tourism sectors in Indonesia can offer many opportunities to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG's), as well as boost the local economy, according to Skoog.
"We are happy to support eco-tourism development in Flores," he said.
East Nusa Tenggara is one of the provinces in Indonesia where development should be accelerated and extended in order to meet the Masterplan for Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia's Economic Development or MP3EI 2011-2015, in which tourism is one of the priority sectors.
Meanwhile, head of the European Union Delegation for Cooperation, Franck Viault, said that the involvement of the communities in the project is the main point of this program.
"We are delighted to know that the project has significantly contributed to an increase in the number of tourists, improvement of local products and other related issues," he said.
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