Atambua Adventure Off-Road 2017 Promotes Cross-Border Tourism
Jakarta. The Ministry of Tourism presented an off-road event to promote cross-border tourism in Atambua, Belu district, East Nusa Tenggara, on April 22-23.
The 400 participants in Atambua Adventure Off-Road 2017 consisted of people from both Indonesia and East Timor, who toured the border regions of the two countries.
The main event took place in the capital Atambua, which is the second-largest city on Timor Island.
The starting point on day one was at Simpang Lima Atambua. The route then headed to Mauhalek Waterfall, Fulan Fehan Valley and Benteng Ranu Hitu before going through the border highlands between Indonesia and East Timor in Lamaken and South Lamaken districts.
Day two began in Naekasa village and headed to Kakuluk Mesak district and North Central Timor district before returning to Simpang Lima Atambua for the closing ceremony.
"Besides promoting Belu's culture and ecotourism, this event is also a place where community members from East Timor and Timor Island can get to know each other," Esthy Reko Astuty, deputy for tourism development at the Tourism Ministry, said on Saturday (15/04).
She also expressed hope that Atambua can become a sports tourism destination in Indonesia.
"Sports tourism is becoming a new attraction now. This event will be good for strengthening friendships between the two neighboring countries," she said.
Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said there has been a 3.6 percent increase in foreign tourists to the border area since his ministry helped to present the event.
"Belu district directly borders East Timor and it is considered to have a special attraction and also very strategic for tourism development," he said.
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