Minister of Tourism (Menpar) Arief Yahya accompanied by North Sulawesi Governor H. Nur Alam and Wakatobi Regency Head H Arhawi inaugurated the Calendar of Event Wakatobi at Balairung Soesilo Sudarman, Office of Ministry of Tourism, Jakarta. 

Wakatobi which has been established as 10 New Bali will hold 15 spectacular events throughout 2017. "After the decree of President Joko Widodo become 10 Priority Destinations, Wakatobi Regency will be made as a world-class destination, especially maritime tourism that has been awarded has a rich underwater potential of coral reefs," said Arief Yahya.

 At the beginning of the year, the Wakatobi CoE 2017 event has been taking place in January 2017. In this month of April Wakatobi will hold the Wangi Wangi Selatan Community (15-20 April 2017) Anniversary, Wowine (Women) Festival (17-20 May 2017) Tomia Island Festival (June 28-30, 2017) as an island-based festival, Cruise Visits "Celedonian Sky (July 13, 2017) which shows Wakatobi as a cruise tour route. Then there is the Wonderful Sail 2017 which took place on 10-13 August 2017. Sail activities in Wakatobi to-9 will be followed by about 50 sail ships anchored at Water Front City Wangi Wangi Island. 

There is also Sampea Liya Festival (28-30 August 2017) which is a cultural festival of Liya people and Barata Kahedupa Festival (15-18 September 2017) as Kaledupa Island Culture Festival. Peak, there Wakatobi Wave event dated 19-22 October 2017. To increase the tourism potential of Wakatobi, Minister Arief Yahya asked the local government to provide 300 hectares of land which will be used as the Tourism Authority Agency such as Nusa Dua Bali. "We ask that it will be built that has become like Nusa Dua, Bali. Nusa Dua has 350 hectares of land, Wakatobi if in Indonesia its rival is Labuan Bajo and Raja Ampat, that is Wakatobi class. 

The exhibition should be world-class, "said Arief Yahya. Governor of Southeast Sulawesi H. Nur Alam then agreed to Minister Arief's wish to provide land for tourism as Nusa Dua, Bali. "We have prepared and we have delivered to the community, they are very understanding. Hopefully the end of this year is available. Currently only 70 new hectares are met. While Minister Arief asked 300 hectares, "he said. On the same occasion, Regent Wakatobi H Arhawi explained, Wakatobi region became a rich destination with the potential of marine tourism. Wakatobi has been awarded as a product of underwater beauty with the highest biodiversity in the world.