Gov’t Unveils 4 Super Prioritized Tourist Destinations

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya accompanied by several governors delivers a press statement after a limited meeting, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Monday (15/7). (Photo by: Jay/PR)

The Government has announced four super prioritized tourist destinations out of the 10 prioritized tourists destinations (dubbed as the 10 New Balis).

The four tourist destinations are Lake Toba in North Sumatera province, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara province, Borobudur temple in Central Java province, and Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara province.

“The President has ordered to complete construction all facilities and infrastructure in those four destinations by 2020. In other words, the 3A aspect must become priority, namely ‘attraction’ which must be developed based on world standard, ‘accessibility’, and ‘amenity,” said Minister of Arief Yahya after attending a limited meeting on the Development of Priority Tourist Destinations, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Monday (15/7).

Arief expressed hoped that Lake Toba, North Sumatra can also be recognized as UNESCO Global Geopark (UGG). Regarding accessibility, he said that the Silangit airport – as the main gateway to the lake – has been transformed into an international airport but construction of a toll road connecting Kualanamu and Tebing Tinggi must still be completed.

According to him, the Government has received an investment worth Rp6 trillion to develop Lake Toba and its attractions, to improve its accessibility, and to provide amenities for tourists such as hotels.

In the meantime, Governor of North Sumatra Edy Rahmayadi acknowledged that there are several issues in developing Lake Toba, including infrastructure such as roads that need to be developed to connect seven regencies surrounding the lake. Quality of human resources in the tourism sector to provide excellent service to tourists must also be improved, he said.

“We will improve quality of human resources through trainings at vocational schools,” he said.

Governor of West Nusa Tenggara Zulkifliemansyah said that infrastructure to support the hosting of MotoGP 2021 in Mandalika, Lombok are expected to be completed on schedule.

“Maybe some of you have been questioning whether construction of the circuit can be finished fast. In fact, we did not design a circuit particularly for motorsport race, but a street circuit like those in Singapore and Monaco. Thus, we can use a public road as a circuit. We just have to temporary install stages and other facilities (during the race),” he said, adding that the development will begin in October this year and is planned to be finished next year.

Zulkifliemansyah added that President Jokowi has instructed President Director of Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) to design the circuit to prepare for the possibility of using the circuit not only to host MotoGP race but also Formula 1 race. “I suppose we have to prepare for the arrival of domestic and international tourists if MotoGP and Formula One races can be held in Mandalika,” he said.

The Governor also thanked Ministry of Tourism for the opening of a direct flight route from Perth, Australia, to Lombok, on 9 June 2019.  “The new route can increase tourist arrivals in Lombok. We hope this collaboration can contribute to the opening of more direct flight routes that connect Lombok with Darwin, Melbourne, and Sydney,” he said. (AIT/RSF/JAY/ES)

Translated by : Rany Anjany Subachrum
Edited by : Muhardi/M. Ersan Pamungkas