The federal government has formally started construction on 10 prepared tourism villages around Lake Toba in North Sumatra. It hopes the villages, when finished, will bring in domestic and foreign travelers and increase the location’s economy.
Lake Toba Tourist Authority Board (BOPDT) director Arie Prasetyo stated the development of the villages was a pilot task for the advancement of other traveler destinations in the country. Part of the facilities expenses are being covered by corporate contributions.
Read likewise: Govt stimulates on development of ‘super-priority’ location Lake Toba
” We hope Lake Toba’s advancement will not just depend on the state budget plan financing however will likewise maximize the participation of other stakeholders,” he said in a declaration on Friday.
According to Arie, state-owned oil giant Pertamina added to the construction of toilets in the location while state-owned pawnshop Pegadaian developed the area’s waste management system.
The government has been working to establish 5 super-priority tourist locations as part of its efforts to make the tourist market among the new chauffeurs of the country’s financial growth. The destinations are Lake Toba, Borobudur in Central Java, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara and Likupang in North Sulawesi.
Coordinating Maritime and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan asked ministries in April to accelerate the Lake Toba towns’ advancement in July.
” It’s currently clear what should be done by each ministry and institution so that the coordination will be close, regardless of the physical distancing,” he stated.
The 10 villages will be located in Humbang Hasundutan regency, Toba regency and North Tapanuli regency.
Arie stated the government had also supplied Rp 26 billion (US$ 1.8 million) in settlement to regional homeowners whose land was to be affected by the project, which covers a total of 279 hectares.
” We offered settlement for 255 land plots owned by 204 individuals. The Rp 26 billion budget is funded by the state spending plan and will be distributed to individuals,” he said.
The ministry’s tourism and creative economy deputy Odo Manuhutu expressed hope that the very first stage of land acquisition would attract investment to the destination.
” Ideally, the investment will enhance economic development in the area, develop tasks and offer included value to the local economy,” he said, as estimated in the statement.
The Toba caldera was recently named a UNESCO Global Geopark during the United Nations cultural body ' s 209 th plenary session in Paris on Tuesday.
Read likewise: Lake Toba reopens for residents, not yet for domestic and foreign travelers
Toba Caldera Geopark is a home to 13 geosites with striking views, namely Tongging Sipiso-piso, Silalahi Sabungan, Haranggaol, Sibaganding Parapat, Eden Park, Balige Liong Spige Meat, Situmurun Blok Uluan, Hutaginjang, Muara Sibandang, Sipinsur Bakti Raja, Bakara Tipang, Tele Pangururan and Pusuk Buhit.
Lake Toba, the world ' s largest volcanic lake, was formed about 74,000 years earlier by a supervolcanic eruption. The bottom of the caldera later filled with water, and it is currently the biggest lake in Indonesia.
The North Sumatra provincial administration is confident that the UNESCO recognition will help boost foreign tourist arrivals in the province.
