REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, KENDARI -- Wakatobi, located in Southeast Sulawesi province, will be established as a special economic zone for tourism by the Ministry of Tourism.

"The Ministry of Tourism will make Wakatobi a special economic zone for tourism in Southeast Sulawesi as the area is well-known as a world-class tourist destination and has beautiful natural attractions," Administrative Head of Wakatobi Hugua stated here on Tuesday.

According to Hugua, Wakatobi, which is recognized as one of the eight world biosphere reserves in Indonesia by the UNESCO, has abundant biodiversity.

Wakatobi's underwater world is inhabited by 750 species of coral, 942 species of fish, and a variety of other marine biota, he noted.

"The rich biological diversity is an extraordinary attraction for tourists, especially for world-class divers," Hugua pointed out.

He noted that Wakatobi holds a strategic position in the marine toll program, initiated by the government of President Joko Widodo, as two sea toll lanes pass through it.

The first sea toll lane is lane V that links Nusa Tenggara, Bali, and Wakatobi to Bitung and Manado (North Sulawesi).

"While the second sea toll lane is lane VI that connects Nusa Tenggara, Makassar (South Sulawesi), Wakatobi, and Raja Ampat (Papua Barat) to Papua.

"This strategic position will encourage Wakatobi's tourism as this tourist site will become a stopover for visitors passing through these sea toll lanes," he added.

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