East Nusa Tenggara has become an important market for Mandala Airlines, as the region experiences a wave of economic development. Mandala recently established a partnership with TransNusa Air Services to provide feeder services to the region, including Labuan Bajo, better known as Komodo Island.

During a recent visit to East Nusa Tenggara, President Director of Mandala Airlines, Diono Nurjadin, together with Commissioner of Mandala, Joseph Dharmabrata, met the Governor of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Frans Lebu Raya. Diono said that Mandala’s joint services with TransNusa had already helped boost the number of visitors to the remote island location.

“We saw huge tourism potential in the area. As proof of this, Komodo National Park, in Labuan Bajo, famous for its Komodo Dragons, has been nominated for the global ‘New Seven Wonders of Nature’ list.” The list is being run by a Swiss-based nonprofit foundation. If successful, Komodo’s inclusion will further boost world interest in visiting East Nusa Tenggara, said Diono. The Governor of NTT, Frans Lebu Raya, invited Indonesians and visitors to vote and support Komodo Island in the global online survey. Komodo is in Category E, covering Forests, National Parks or Nature Reserves.

Komodo National Park was appointed a ‘Biosphere Conservation Site’ in 1986 and was listed as a World Heritage site in 1991. It is competing with leading natural wonders from across the world, including the Amazon (Brazil), Puerta Princesa (the Philippines), Dinosaur Provincial Park (Canada) and Eua National Park (Africa).

The vote runs until December 2010. Mandala encourages you to show your support by visiting the website to vote, then visiting Komodo Island yourself. www.new7wonders.com