Flights Should Be Increased Ahead Of Sail Tomini, Boalemo Festival

Gorontalo (Antara Bali)- Deputy Governor of Gorontalo Idris Rahim has urged the transportation ministry to increase flights to Gorontalo ahead of the implementation of Sail Tomini and Boalemo Festival.

"There should be additional flights to Gorontalo, at least from September 8 to 12, 2015. I hope our request will be met by the transportation ministry, so that more guests will come to Gorontalo," he noted here recently.

Currently, only six flights per day operate to and from Gorontalo by Garuda Indonesia (1x), Lion Air (2x), Sriwijaya (1x), and Batik Air (1x) serving Gorontalo-Makassar-Jakarta routes, according to Rahim.

A helipad is currently being constructed in Gorontalo to support the international maritime event.

The international maritime event Sail Tomini and Boalemo Festival 2015 were jointly launched by nine ministers, two governors, and two district heads at the Epicentrum Hotel, Jakarta, on May 5, 2015.

The theme of the annual event is "The Pearl of Equator for Future Life" and its logo depicts a Phinisi traditional sailing boat of Sulawesi.

The logo and theme are in accordance with the vision of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in developing Indonesia, the world's largest archipelagic nation, as a maritime axis.

The peak event of Sail Tomini 2015 will be held in Perigi Moutong District, some 75 kilometers west of Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi, on September 19, 2015, and is expected to be attended by President Jokowi.

Boalemo Festival will be held in Tiramita, Gorontalo Province, on September 10, 2015.

The agenda of Sail Tomini expected to be attended by 10 thousand guests, encompasses 24 activities such as a yacht rally, a maritime research expedition, a warship parade, exhibitions, and scientific seminars.

Some 100 foreign yachters from various countries are expected to participate in Sail Tomini 2015. (WDY)