Most "Sail Banda" activities to take place in Ambon

Antara News, Saturday, January 16, 2010 16:55 WIB

Ambon (ANTARA News) - Most of the activities in the international marine event "Sail Banda" in July-August 2010 will take place in Ambon city, Maluku`s provincial capital, Ambon Mayor Jopi Papilaya said here on Saturday.

"I attended a meeting with Sail Banda national committee chairman Fadel Muhammad in Jakarta on January 12, 2010 and it was explained that most of the Sail Banda activities will be conducted in Ambon," Papilaya said.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on December 14, 2009 appointed Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad as chairman of the Sail Banda national committee.

"Thus the basic principle of Sail Banda 2010 is part of a central government breakthrough to promote Maluku`s tourism and other outstanding sectors to attract the attention of the international community," Papilaya said.

In addition, the Ambon mayor said, Sail Banda would be a momentum to show to the international community that peace prevails in Maluku and that the different components of its population are now coexisting in perfect harmony after a three-year communal conflict which erupted on January 19, 1999 in Ambon city.

Therefore, Papilaya said, it was necessary to draw up the schedule of the activities and provide for the supporting facilities as soon as possible.

"I have taken data on a number of hotel rooms and other accommodations, transportation and other supporting facilities because we have only five months left to organize the international marine event," Papilaya said.

For the implementation of Sail Banda 2010, the central government had allocated funds and the Maluku provincial administration itself had also earmarked Rp12 billion for the event.

The Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry had untertaken the organization of Sail Banda 2010 which was the brainchild of former marine affairs and fisheries minister Freddy Numberi and former director general of coastal area and small island affairs Alex Retraubun. They evolved the idea after the success of Sail Bunaken 2009 in Manado, North Sulawesi.

Foreign tourists enjoy sunset at Ambon Bay in Maluku Province..
(ANTARA/ Jimmy Ayal, Jakarta)

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