President Jokowi Asks Development of ’10 New Bali’ to be Immediately Completed
Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung talks with a number of ministers before a Limited Meeting at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Thursday (16/11) afternoon. (Photo: Agung/PR)
President Joko Jokowi Widodo said that there is a shift in which people do not shop for goods, brands, but love to travel, try new restaurants, go to cafe, and taste distinctive dishes. “This is an opportunity we have to take advantage,” President Jokowi said when giving his introductory remarks at a Limited Meeting on the Development of 10 New Bali, held at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Thursday (16/11) afternoon.
The President also mentioned there is a spike in Chinese visitors. Based on the latest data, there are about 125 million visitors, which will grow in five years likely to be 180 million, and it will rise steadily.
The President continued, the figure is from one country only, from China alone. According to the President, almost half of whom entered ASEAN, which mean 62 million visitors.
President Jokowi believes, of that number, if we have a new Bali 10 destination which is worked on quickly, well prepared, of course with a different tourist attraction from one to another, then this will be something interesting. “So that people come to Indonesia because of the beauty of its beaches, culture such as Borobudur, the caves, geo-park, the lake like Toba Lake, or because they want to dive and surf,” the President explained.
According to the President, we should have such distinctions, so it is expected that, of 62 million from only one country, for example, half of them or a third come to Indonesia, which is 20 million visitors. “It’s just from one country. So, the target of 20 million visitors, given to the Minister of Tourism in 2019, is not something difficult to meet,” the President said.
In order to meet the target, President Jokowi stressed that the development of 10 New Bali should be immediately completed. The President requested the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, Ministry of Agriculture and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency, Ministry of Environment, the Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf) and the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs be ready to be integrated in a development program that has been set.
Customary Buildings
The President gave an example that if we want to develop Mandalika or Lake Toba, the environment must be prepared. For example, Mandalika, the bare hills on the left-right side are to be immediately planted. Then, the traditional buildings, do not replace the customary buildings with the Spanish or Mediterranean architecture. “We should pay attention to these customary buildings,” the President said.
Meanwhile, in Lake Toba, the President questioned, why the colorful houses are not used to be a brand for Lake Toba. He pointed to the example of a restaurant, according to the President, Bekraf or the Ministry of Tourism can manage them, so restaurants in Toba can be upgraded together, either the design or the front facade.
When it comes to the environment, the President has discussed it with the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing. For the souvenir market, this can be managed by the Minister of Trade or Minister of Public Works and Public Housing. The parking areas are located near coastal areas. Otherwise, according to the President, they will be preceded by street vendors scattered everywhere. “We prepare the place for them to sale in the souvenir market,” the President said.
For Mandalika, the President requested 2 or 3 hectares for the souvenir market, which could be managed by the Ministry of Trade, or the Ministry of Public Work and Public Housing, with good local architectural designs.
Then, the bus stops and others or small restaurants belong to the community, the President suggested that they be prepared. Do not let the community build them individually, which result in the street vendors scattered everywhere. “I hope that reforestation in Toba, Mandalika, is really worked out so well that the environment is preserved, not deforested,” the President said.
This is what, the President said, is interesting to do right away. The President reminded all that this requires speed in responding to the rapidly growing development of global tourism.
The Limited Meeting were attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Minister of Tourism Arief Yahya, Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/Head of National Land Agency Sofyan Djalil, Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita, Minister of Public Work and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Education and Culture Minister Muhadijir Effendy, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Minister of Transportation Budi K. Sumadi, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna H. Laoly, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti, Minister of Communications and Informatics Rudiantara, and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ignatius Jonan. (DND/AGG/ES) (MUR/YM/Naster).
