Wakatobi Regency
Wakatobi is the name of an archipelago and regency located in an area of Sulawesi Tenggara (South Eastern), Indonesia. The name Wakatobi is an acronym of the names of the main islands that form the archipelago: Wangiwangi Island, Kaledupa, Tomea, and Binongko. The group is part of a larger group called the Tukangbesi Islands.
The archipelago, located in the biodiverse hotspot known as Wallacea. It is part of the Wakatobi National Park.
Flight hub
A Memorandum of Understanding between Express Air and Wakatobi administration has been signed to open daily flight from Wakatobi-Ambon v.v. since February 24, 2012 use jet aircraft CN-FO166 basic 328-300 with 30 seating capacity. 60 percent of Maluku people come from Southeast Sulawesi, mainly from Wakatobi. Furthermore express Air will make Wakatobi as a flight hub due to Wakatobi lies between Banda Sea and Flores Sea. The next routes to be open are Wakatobi-Lembata, Kupang, Denpasar (Bali), Labuan Bajo, Ende, Maumere and Larantuka.[1]
Acitivities
Sail Wakatobi-Belitong will be held in Wakatobi in July 2011 and in Belitung Island in August 2011. Wakatobi will make a mass wedding under the sea event. As a part of Sail Wakatobi-Belitong, the organizing committee launch also International undersea photo contest with theme: "The Beauty of Under Water World Coral Reef Triangle" and will be initialized after the Sail Wakatobi-Belitong is launched on July 16, 2011.[2][3] To support Sail Wakatobi-Belitong, Transportation ministry has given fund Rp.70 billion ($8.1 million) to improve Wangi-Wangi port, Kaledupa port and Tomea Island port which will be finished before the event runs.[4]
The Wakatobi is also home to Operation Wallacea, a UK based for non-profit conservation group looking at sustainable development of fisheries and coral reef research. An independent non-commercial website [5] has been set up about the marine park. This website contains tourist and travel information about the wakatobi, with additional resources about the biodiversity, conservation and local people.
In popular culture
A collaborative work of WWF-Indonesia, the Wakatobi administration and SET Film Workshop has portrayed the marine biodiversity with underwater scenery around the Wakatobi Islands and the life of the Bajo tribe, the sea nomads who rely entirely on marine resources for survival in the film Mirror Never Lies, which got "Honorable Mention" at the Global Film Initiative.[6]
References
- ^ "Ekspres Air akan Layani Rute Wakatobi-Ambon". February 12, 2012.
- ^ http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/05/10/sail-wakatobi-belitong-targets-asean-involvement.html
- ^ http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/73431/wakatobi-opens-registration-for-undersea-photo-contest
- ^ http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/73126/ministry-provides-rp70-billion-for-wakatobi
- ^ http://www.wakatobi.org
- ^ http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/05/01/wakatobi’s-alluring-beauty.html
External links
Regencies and cities of Southeast Sulawesi | ||
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Capital: Kendari | ||
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