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Stretching south from the main island of Sulawesi into the Flores Sea, the Taka Bonerate National Park in the Selayar Regency, in the province of South Sulawesi will come alive with all kinds of festivities when the Taka Bonerate Island Expedition 2017 gets underway from 23rd to 28th October 2017.
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Entering its 9th edition this year, the Takabonerate Island Expedition (TIE) 2017 has chosen the theme "Showcasing the Marine Potentials of Selayar towards a Golden Marine Tourist Destination 2019".
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As previously, this exceptional event will feature a variety of exciting activities that will take place in several spots across the national park. This year, among the highlights are: a Special Art Collaboration between India and Selayar, a Mass Traditional Dance Performance, an Underwater Exhibition, Art and Cultural Performances, Seafood Bazaar, "Bajo Tribe Islands Exploration" Island Hopping Tour, Tinabo Beach Fiesta (Snorkeling, Coral Transplanting, Release of baby turtles, Shark Feeding), and more. There will also be a number of attractive competitions such as the Decorated Becak Tri-shaw competition, Traditional Kite Competition, Traditional Boat Race, as well as a number of traditional folk games includingBangkeng Ka'daro, Rongkong-rongkong Jangang, and Terompa.
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Confirming its significance, the event is scheduled to be attended by the Vice President of Republic Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla and a number of Ministers as well as other state officials. During the event, the Vice President will also sign an MoU with the Sampoerna Consortium for a number of tourism development megaprojects. Similar to the name of President Joko Widodo or also familiarly known as Jokowi was given to an island, this time the name Jusuf Kalla will also be given to one of the islands in the national park. "This is an expression of our appreciation" said Muhammad Basli Ali, Regent of Selayar Islands."Both Jokowi Island and Jusuf Kalla Island are expected to attract tourists".
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For the occasion, the Organizers have also prepared tour packages for both on Land and Underwater. The Land Tour will take participants to some of the most stunning landscapes and all its fascinating attractions across the islands. Completing the experience, the underwater tour invites participants to plunge into the spectacular underwater wonders of Taka Bonerate National Park. Because of its relative remoteness, much of the Park has remained in pristine condition.
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Comprising 21 islands, the Taka Bonerate National Park in the Selayar Regency dominated by a rich marine park, but it is also habitat to a number of bird species from land birds to coastal and sea birds that frolic on the many sand dunes. TakaBonerate is the third largest atoll region in the world after Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands and Suvadiva in the Maldives.
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And along with Wakatobi, Ambon, Banda, Raja Ampat, Bunaken as well as in the Derawan islands in Kalimantan, the Taka Bonerate park form the heart of the Coral Triangle which stretches from the Solomon Islands in the east, to the Philippines in the north, to Bali, Lombok, Komodo, Flores and the Savu Sea in the south, these latter forming the base of the huge Coral Triangle.
To get to Selayar, one will have to take an overland bus from Makassar via Bira at Bulukumba, then a ferry boat to Selayar. Garuda Indonesia plans to open flights from Makassar to Selayar to facilitate access to this spectacular world-class underwater world.
For more information, log on to:
http://ayokeselayar.com/takabonerate-island-expedition-ix-tahun-2017
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