AIRPORT - Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has said that investors from Australia and South Korea are competing to invest in the expansion of Komodo Airport in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, which is being developed into a major tourist destination.
“We will soon offer the Komodo Airport [expansion]. Two investors have been competing to win the project,” said Budi in Jakarta on Tuesday, as reported by kompas.com.
He added that the investment value of the airport expansion was estimated at Rp 2 trillion (US$149.48 million).
Labuan Bajo is one of 10 destinations the government is prioritizing for tourism development in a bid to create what the government campaign calls “10 new Balis.” Komodo Airport needs to be renovated and expanded to achieve the status of an international airport.
Close to Labuan Bajo is the Komodo National Park, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, known for the Komodo dragon.
Budi said Komodo Airport was currently under the management of the Transportation Ministry. The selected investor would be appointed the airport, he added.
The ministry also invites state-owned enterprises to manage several other airports, including Temindung Airport in Samarinda, Juwata Airport in Tarakan, Kalimarau Airport in East Kalimantan, Radin Inten Airport in Lampung, Sentani Airport in Jayapura and Hang Nadim Airport on the island of Batam.
