Indonesia's Lake Toba gets US$400m investment in tourism push

Indonesia tourism ministry’s Lake Toba Authority Executive Body (BPODT) has signed an agreement with seven investors to develop Lake Toba for tourism. The move will see an investment of US$400 million over 77.5 hectares of land, Antara reported.The seven investors are Bachtiar Karim from Gaia Toba Mas, Berlinton Siahaan from Agung Concern, David Makes from Alas Rimbawan Lestari, Erwin Hutabrat from Gamaland Toba Properti, Suhendro Santosa from Crystal Land Development, Surya Darmadi  from Asset Pacific and Wiraseno from Arcs House-Jambuluwuk, according to The Jakarta Globe.The move will see BPODT ensuring investors implement an eco-tourism concept, while involving the social economy community around Lake Toba. This is to help conserve the environment, local wisdom and traditions. Arie Prasetyo, president director of BPODT, said in the Antara news report that investors will also build facilities such as hotels and resort areas for MICE activities, a tourism education centre, as well as agro-forestry and organic farms to increase the welfare of locals.Most recently, the Indonesia tourism ministry revealed plans to bolster its airports with low-cost carrier (LCC) terminals to boost foreign tourist arrivals to the country. The move was also a bid to meet the target of 20% growth for tourist arrivals yearly, which includes a target of 20 million foreign tourists in 2020.Read also:Indonesia tourism ministry to target Indian tourists visiting MY and SGIndonesia tourism ministry to organise 180 events in marketing pushGrab ties up with Indonesia’s tourism ministry in co-branding pushIndonesia’s tourism ministry teams up with 28 brandsGaruda Indonesia and Tourism Australia extend partnershipTourism Indonesia and AirAsia drive tourism efforts through marketing(Photo courtesy: 123RF)