Lake Toba in Samosir Island, North Sumatra, Indonesia (Image credit: travelingyuk)

Indonesia Tourism Minister: 4 tourist attractions to be prepared by 2020

Faradita Prayusti
Politics & Economic
News Flash Indonesia
Jul 16, 2019
2353
On Monday, Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism Arie Yahya said the government would expand 4 tourist sites, which are Lake Toba (North Sumatra), Borobudur Temple (Central Java), Mandalika (West Nusa Tenggara) as well as Labuan Bajo (East Nusa Tenggara) by 2020.

Together with Indonesia’s leader Joko Widodo, the ministry held a closed-door meeting on July 15 to discuss the expansion of priority tourist locations. The minister emphasized that all infrastructure and basic services should be finished in 2020 to attract tourists by providing them with easy access and convenient.

The development planning has been discussed since February this year, where the Vice President of Indonesia Jusuf Kalla said the four tourist locations would be “new Bali” for local and foreign visitors.

The government would improve access to Silangit airport to facilitate tourists who visit Lake Toba, the most famous lake in Indonesia. The local leader of North Sumatra Edy Rahmayadi highlighted the infrastructure’s development must go along with the improvement in the public mindset to serve travelers.

While in Mandalika, the governor of West Nusa Tenggara Zulkieflimansyah said the government will build a circuit for 2021 MotoGP starting in October this year. The circuit is expected to finish next year since Mandalika will be the host for the Grand Prix motorcycle racing.

West Nusa Tenggara neighbor, East Nusa Tenggara which known well for its Komodo dragon Island will keep promoting its tourist destinations since the province is rich of attractions, said Governor Viktor Laiskodat.

The world's largest Buddhist temple, Borobudur Temple, will hold its annual Borobudur Marathon in November this year. According to Ganjar Pranowo, the governor of Central Java, tourists have booked all hotels in the region due to the event.

The development was purposed to increase tourists’ interest in visiting and coming to Indonesia as well as boost foreign exchange incomes in the country.

The government expected tourist arrivals in 2019 can reach 20 million and an increase in the country’s foreign exchange revenues up to $20 billion from the tourism industry.

Source: https://en.antaranews.com/news/128976/4-tourist-locations-to-be-ready-by-2020

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