Toba Ready to Welcome 2019 Tourists with 17 Events

Jakarta, InfoPublik – Indonesian Tourism Ministry and the Tourism Authority Agency for Lake Toba (BPODT) have prepared at least 17 national and international events to amuse and attract more tourists to Lake Toba in 2019.

This was revealed at launching of Lake Toba Calendar of Event (CoE) 2019 the Ministry of Tourism, Monday night (2/25). Tourism Minister Arief Yahya and Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimujono were present in the event.

Also present at the launching were Tourism Ministry's expert staff for Multicultural affairs , also PIC for 100 Wonderful Indonesia CoE ,Esthy Reko Astuti, North Sumatra Deputy Governor H. Musa Rajekshah, President Director of Tourism Authority Agency for Lake Toba (BPODT) Arie Prasetyo, and a number of regents of regencies located around Lake Toba.

The event was also enlivened by musical performances Petra Sihombing, North Sumatra music and dance (Gondang music group and tor-tor dance), and typical North Sumatra coffee by barista Rama Michael.

In his speech, Minister Arief Yahya delivered his appreciation to the organization of 17 national and international tourism events in Lake Toba. "Lake Toba which is developed as the 'New Bali' is a world-class tourism destination and needs to be promoted throughout the world," he said.

According to him, events or attractions are important elements in tourism known as 3A (Attractions, Amenities, and Accessibility). The 3A elements of Lake Toba tourism has been developed rapidly. For example, international flights service through Silangit Siborong-borong Airport which brings around 200 thousand tourists annually, and development of outer ring-road from Kualanamu to Toba.

"Lake Toba, as a member of UNESCO's Global Geoparks Network (GGN), will strengthen its tourism competitiveness at the world level. Geopark is Indonesia's leading tourism attraction that can contribute significantly to foreign tourists' visits which this year is targeted at 20 million foreign tourists" Minister Arief Yahya concluded. (reporter: Untung S., translator: Wilda Stiana)