Kendari, SE Sulawesi, May 23 (Antara) - Hugua, the district of Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi, spoke at length about the geographic position of the Wakatobi tourist destination at the United Cities and Local Governments-Asia Pacific (UCLG-ASPAC) meeting in Jeju, South Korea.

"The members countries of UCLG-ASPAC, led by the governor of Jeju, would like to know the location of the Wakatobi tourist site as it had been declared as a world biosphere reserve by UNESCO," Hugua stated during a phone call from Jeju on Monday.

Being one of Indonesia`s ten main tourist destinations will not affect Wakatobi`s status as a world biosphere reserve.

"In fact, being a tourist destination will support Wakatobi as a world biosphere reserve," he added.

Hugua remarked that the development of a tourist site did not take anything for the natural environment, but it would, in fact, preserve and maintain the natural resources.

He ensured that tourism development in Wakatobi will protect the area from every threat or damage.

"Tourism development is identical to environmental preservation as tourists are interested in beautiful, clean, and preserved natural areas," he noted.

Hugua pointed out that Wakatobi`s waters were inhabited by 750 coral reef species, 942 fish species, and other marine biota.

"The local people continue to preserve the natural resources in Wakatobi. They really understand it will not only be beneficial for the economy as more and more tourists will visit their area but also for the environment itself," he added.