REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, KUPANG -- Head of Tourism and Creative Economy Office of East Nusa Tenggara Province Marius Ardu Jelamu is optimistic that the visa-free policy for 30 countries will increase the number of tourist arrivals to the province.

"We are optimistic that the policy will increase the number of tourist visits to East Nusa Tenggara," Jelamu affirmed here on Thursday.

Since June 9, 2015, the Indonesian government officially applied a visa-free policy for 30 countries, which is expected to boost foreign tourist visits up to 20 million by 2020.

"The visa-free policy is the most effective breakthrough to boost foreign tourist arrivals in Indonesia," Jelamu noted.

Of the national target of 20 million tourist arrivals to be achieved by 2019, the provincial office expects to attract 600 thousand tourists to visit East Nusa Tenggara.

According to Jelamu, 600 thousand refers to the number of tourist arrivals, which reached 530,945 of the target of 550 thousand tourists in 2014.

East Nusa Tenggara has several world famous sites such as the Komodo National Park located on the western tip of Flores Island, which is inhabited by the giant lizard, Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis).

This surviving ancient animal species was later named as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

The province also has a lake, located at the top of Mount Flores in Ende District, Flores Island, whose color is always changing as well as various natural and cultural attractions spread across the island province.

Nihiwatu Beach in West Sumba is ranked 17th on the list of 100 most scenic beaches in the world and is even considered more beautiful than Hanalei Bay Beach in Hawaii.

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