Inauguration of Maratua Airport Seen Helping Boost East Kalimantan Tourism

Jakarta Globe, May 08, 2015

Students reach the finish line of the Gallon Rafting Competition 2015 held by
Mapala Islamic University on the Martapura river in Banjarmasin, Kalimantan on
 May 3, 2015. A total of 27 organizations from universities in Kalimantan participated
in the competition. (Antara Photo/Herry Murdy Hermawan)

Jakarta. The government of East Kalimantan will inaugurate a new airport on Maratua island in Berau regency in June support the region’s tourism development, according to a report by state-run news agency Antara.

Zairin Zain, the head of East Kalimantan’s transportation office, told Antara on Thursday that the airport’s construction was expected to facilitate domestic and foreign tourists.

Maratua island is in the Derawan archipelago, a group of islands off the coast of East Kalimantan. The area is renowned for its crystal blue water and abundant sea life, which is popular with divers.

“The government is ready to inaugurate the airport, which has 1,400-meter long runway, in June this year,” Zarin was quoted as saying by Antara. “The airport construction costs Rp 92 billion [$7 million].”

The airport will also function as an “outer layer of defense” for Indonesia, Zarin told Antara.