Former Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla and a group of more than 70 businessmen, public figures and journalists are visiting Komodo Island today to support its candidacy in the New7Wonders of Nature.
“If Komodo Island becomes a New Seven Wonder, it will be a great boost for the island and will improve the welfare of local people,” Kalla, who has recently been appointed an ambassador for the island, told The Jakarta Post. “More and more tourists will visit the island and it will show a good image of Indonesia.”
Jusuf Kalla believes that the New7Wonders of Nature campaign is bringing “substantial benefits to the nation and lift the name of the Indonesian people.” Increasing the popularity of Komodo can only have positive impact on tourism and economy of Indonesia, especially East Nusa Tenggara, he says, adding: “And most importantly this is a good moment to bring together the spirit of the Indonesian people to victory with by sealing the wonder island of Komodo in the international community as one of the New7Wonders of the Nature.”
Indonesians simply need to type KOMODO and send it to 9818 via Telkomsel, XL and Indosat to cast their vote.
The Komodo dragon, Varanus komodoensis, is found in the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang and Gili Dasami. A member of the monitor lizard family (Varanidae), it is the largest living species of lizard, growing to a maximum of length three metres and weighing up to around 70 kilograms.
