:
Photo caption: The Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan during a press conference at F1 Powerboat Lake Toba 2023 Media Center at Mulia Raja Napitupulu Port Terminal Building, Balige, North Sumatra, (Feb. 24)
Balige, February 24, 2023 – The Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan asserted that Indonesian human capital’s capability in welcoming international events have improved and continue to show progress. People’s hospitality culture are developing, increasing positive image of the country to the eyes of international community.
According to Luhut, Indonesian people can pick valuable lessons from the organization of world events hosted by Indonesia. This also happens in Balige, when Lake Toba is designated as the international racing arena for the F1H20 World Championship Kopiko Grand Prix of Indonesia, which today, Friday, Feb. 24 will start its free practice session.
“This shows that we are getting better and more advanced and open to new things. Hopefully, a positive mindset continues to be built in the community. Keep maintaining cleanliness, service, courtesy to our guests, so they want to come back. The main thing is that we will get a multiplier effect from this event, it can drive the economy in Toba, North Sumatra and Indonesia," he said at Balige, Friday, Feb.24.
Luhut also feels optimistic about Lake Toba’s charm which is increasingly going global through the F1 Powerboat Lake Toba 2023.
"As the host of the F1 Powerboat championship, of course, Lake Toba will become a topic of discussion in the world. We’ve never imagined that Lake Toba would be watched and seen directly by more than 180 million viewers," he said.
On this occasion, Luhut also welcomed the racers, crew and officials who are present at Lake Toba. He hoped that the racers will make good preparation while at the same time enjoying Toba's beautiful natural charm. Luhut asked F1H2O Racing Founder Nicolo Di San Germano, to help promote Lake Toba potentials to foreign audiences.
"I believe Nicolo can make the best promotion of Indonesia and Lake Toba, also Lake Toba’s potentials as the world’s largest volcanic lake, with a length of more than 100 km and a width of 30 km which is surrounded by 8 regencies," he said.
The Toba area has many beautiful natural landscapes. Not only nature, the area that has been designated as one of the Super Priority Tourism Destinations (DPSP) also has a variety of delightful local culinary. In addition, the Indonesian government also continues to encourage the acceleration of development in terms of accessibility, amenities, and attractions, both in Toba and other DPSPs.
"I believe that the implementation of this event from today to Sunday, when President Joko Widodo is planned to be attending, can be successful and become a good thing going forward," said Luhut.
According to Luhut, F1H2O Racing expressed its appreciation to Indonesia, which is considered capable of preparing for an international racing event in just 6 months. Faster than expected.
"I also conveyed to Nicolo that we hope to be able to hold this event in Toba for five years consecutively," said Luhut, adding that Nicolo said he would welcome another fifty years, let alone just five years.
Luhut also expressed appreciation for the cooperation of various parties including the media and the community, which was very well established.
"At the same time, I also want to inform that next week, on March 3-5, 2023 the World Superbike event will be histed in Mandalika, Lombok. We are promoting our five priority tourism destinations to become great. In a few days, it can make a direct economic turnover for nearly 300 billion, and its indirect economic turnover is estimated to be bigger," concluded Luhut.
Currently, the Indonesian government is promoting the National Movement of Proud to Travel in Indonesia or “Bangga Berwisata di Indonesia” (BBWI) which targets 1.2 to 1.4 billion tourist visits in the country in 2023, or twice the achievement of the previous year. This effort is expected to generate revenue in the tourism sector of more than Rp3 trillion.
Editor: Penni Patmawati Rusman
