Palu, Central Sulawesi,  (antarasulteng.com) - Central Sulawesi Governor Longki Djanggola said the provincial administration has been ready to welcome and protect foreign tourists who will come to the province to witness the total solar eclipse, forecast to occur on March 9, 2016.

"We have been ready to welcome and protect the local and foreign tourists who will visit the province to witness the total solar eclipse," Djanggola remarked here on Sunday.

He stated that the people of some districts in the province, and thousands of tourists will have an opportunity to watch when the sun darkens to sky during the day.

Djanggola then affirmed that the local government officials and the residents have been ready to welcome, to serve, and to protect foreign tourists visiting the province to witness this rare but very interesting natural phenomenon.

For a few minutes, up to 98 percent of the sun will be hidden from the view in those areas, when the moon entirely covers the sun, leaving the sun`s radiant corona shining behind it like a crown in a matter of minutes.

"But people in Central Sulawesi are fortunate to witness it longer as it will cross the sky over the districts of Sigi, Donggala, Palu, Luwuk, Parigi Moutong, Tojo Unauna, and Poso," the governor noted.

He said that besides foreign tourists, observers from Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), South Korea, and Jakarta Amateur Astronomy Association will come to Central Sulawesi to observe the total solar eclipse.

"Therefore, we have designed and prepared a number of performing arts and cultural activities to entertain the visitors," Governor Djanggola affirmed.