Transforming Lake Toba into world-class tourist destination by Fardah

The huge Lake Toba and Samosir Island, lying at its center, offer a well-rounded tourism package incorporating scenic beauty, inimitable Batak culture and traditions, and captivating history.
Located in North Sumatra Province, Lake Toba is undoubtedly not just any ordinary lake but is the largest volcanic lake on Earth.
The ancient lake has been formed by a steep-walled caldera produced during the Toba volcano's eruption, the largest known volcanic eruption on the planet in the past two million years. The powerful eruption, an extremely rare event, is called a supervolcanic eruption.
When viewed from space, the Toba caldera is one of the most striking volcanic craters on Earth, measuring 100 x 30 kilometers.
After Lake Toba’s designation as a priority tourist destination, the Indonesian government has been developing various facilities and infrastructure to support the tourism industry in North Sumatra Province, where the ancient lake is located.
Investment for the development of Lake Toba, totaling Rp3.5 trillion, has been sourced from the State Budget (APBN), the president noted in a press statement released by the Presidential Secretariat.
The government is upbeat about attracting private investments valued at thrice to five times bigger than the government's investment for Lake Toba.

INVESTORS INTERESTED TO DEVELOP LAKE TOBA by Fardah

   Jakarta, Nov 22, 2017 - The North Sumatran provincial government has set an ambitious target of attracting at least one million foreign tourists to visit Lake Toba by 2019.

         The figure is nearly four folds higher that the number of tourists visiting Lake Toba in 2016, which was only 240 thousand. Until September this year, some 197 thousand tourists had visited the area.

         The target of tourist arrivals this year is set at 300 thousand, and next year it is 500 thousand.

         The target might be achievable, as Lake Toba is not just an ordinary water body but is the largest volcanic lake on Earth.

          Lake Toba and Samosir Island, which is located in the middle of the huge lake, offer a complete tourism package encompassing beautiful scenery, unique Batak culture and traditions, and intriguing history.

         The ancient lake was formed by a steep-walled caldera produced during the Toba volcano's eruption, the largest known volcanic eruption on the planet in the past two million years. The powerful eruption, an extremely rare event, is called a supervolcanic eruption.   
     When viewed from space, the Toba caldera is one of the most striking volcanic craters on Earth, measuring 100 kilometers (km) in length and 30 km in width.

         The local government hopes that the Toba Caldera Geopark would be inscribed on the UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2017.

         Moreover, Lake Toba has been designated by the central government as a priority tourist destination, along with nine other tourist attractions, or popularly called as "10 New Bali."

SYNERGY BETWEEN PRIVATE, STATE ENTERPRISES KEY TO LAKE TOBA'S DEVELOPMENT by Fardah

 Jakarta, July 21, 2017 (Antara) - Being developed into a world-class tourist destination, Lake Toba in North Sumatra Province needs to have better connectivity and accessibility as well as facilities for both international and domestic tourists.

          Lake Toba has been designated as one of the 10 priority tourist destinations selected alongside the Borobudur Temple in Central Java, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara, Labuhan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara, Bromo-Tengger-Semeru in East Java, Seribu or One Thousand Islands in Jakarta, Wakatobi in Southeast Sulawesi, Tanjung Lesung in Banten, Morotai in North Maluku, and Tanjung Kelayang in Bangka Belitung.

           In accordance with the instructions given by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) during a limited meeting on February 2, 2016, the government, in cooperation with the private sector, has been developing infrastructure, such as airports, roads, and ports, to improve connectivity in North Sumatra.

          Tourism Minister Arief Yahya had last year stated that on an average, revenue worth US$1 billion is expected to be annually generated from foreign tourist arrivals to Lake Toba. Lake Toba's tourism industry is expected to contribute Rp30 trillion by 2019.

          Investment in the initial stage for Lake Toba's development will reach Rp20 trillion, of which the government will allocate Rp10 trillion and the rest will be sourced from the private sector, he revealed.    
    In June 2016, President Jokowi had signed Presidential Regulation No.  49 of 2016 on establishment of the Board of Lake Toba Tourism Strategic Zone Management Authority to help expedite  the development projects in the area.

DEVELOPING LAKE TOBA INTO ECO-TOURISM, MICE DESTINATION by Fardah

  Jakarta, Aug 24, 2016 (Antara) - Lake Toba area is now being developed to transform the region, often envisioned as "Monaco of Asia," into a sustainable eco-tourism and MICE (meeting, incentive, conference, and exhibition) destination of international standard.

         The government has promised funds to transform Lake Toba into a world class tourism object.

        President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), flanked by First Lady Iriana and several cabinet ministers, last weekend spent three days in North Sumatra to discuss projects necessary to make Lake Toba into one of the 10 priority tourist destinations, as designated by the Central Government.

        Besides, the Head of State also kicked off an Independence Day Carnival dubbed Lake Toba Charm in Balige town, Toba Samosir District, North Sumatra Province, on Aug. 20 and 21, to promote the tourist destination nationally and internationally.

         At present, the government is upgrading existing infrastructure and facilities as well as developing new ones for better connectivity, making the region more accessible.

         Among the infrastructure being upgraded is Silangit Airport, which is located in Siborong-borong, North Tapanuli District, and Sibisa Airport in Toba Samosir District.

         The North Sumatra administrations has provided a total of 600 ha plot of land in the Lake Toba authority zone for tourism purposes.   
    The government will among other things create a world-class flower garden and a botanical garden to support the Lake Toba tourism industry.

INDEPENDENCE DAY CARNIVAL HIGHLIGHTS LAKE TOBA CHARM by Fardah

Jakarta, Aug 23, 2016 (Antara) - Cheers and joy were in the air as hundreds of decorated vehicles  carrying beautiful ladies and gentlemen wrapped in Batak traditional clothes took part in an Indonesian Independence Day Carnival dubbed Lake Toba Charm in Balige, Toba Samosir District, North Sumatra province, on Aug. 21.

         They joined a parade covering a 3.5 km-long route which started from Balige and finished in Parapat, Simalungun District, with a view of Lake Toba all along on one side.     
   In addition to the decorated cars, scores of decorated boats on Lake Toba also enlivened the carnival.

        President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), flanked by First Lady Iriana, kicked off the carnival, organized to promote Lake Toba and surrounding regions as an international tourist destination.   
    Wearing traditional woven clothes of Batak, President Jokowi and spouse were greeted by a number of Batak artists performing traditional dances.

        "This carnival must be held annually. We can see various cultures in our country here," he said before an audience among whom most people were wearing traditional Batak cloth "ulos" and a headband.   
   Among the audience were Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Minister/State Secretary Pratikno, Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, State Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya and Environmental Affairs and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya.

UPGRADING AIRPORTS, SEAPORTS TO SUPPORT LAKE TOBA TOURISM by Fardah

Jakarta, Aug 22, 2016 (Antara)- Lake Toba, with the unique Samosir Island located in its midst, has huge tourism potential that is yet to be exploited for the welfare of the local community, most of which comprise Batak tribe members.

         Realizing that tourism is the top source of employment and Lake Toba and its surrounding regions located in North Sumatra are precious assets, the government has vowed to develop Lake Toba as one of the nation's 10 priority tourist destinations.

         Lake Toba is one of the 10 priority tourist destinations selected along with Borobudur, Mandalika, Labuhan Bajo, Bromo-Tengger-Semeru, Seribu (One Thousand) Islands, Wakatobi, Tanjung Lesung, Morotai, and Tanjung Kelayang.

         President Jokowi has asked the national flag carrier, Garuda Indonesia, to operate  flights to Silangit Airport in North Tapanuli District, to cater to tourists visiting Lake Toba.

         The Lake Toba area is being promoted as an ecotourism and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions destination to be developed on a 600-hectare plot of land in the authority zone.

         The local culture and traditions will be highlighted and promoted as tourist attractions.   
    The government has promised to channel funds to transform Lake Toba into a world-class tourism destination.

         Currently, the government is upgrading existing infrastructure and facilities as well as developing new ones.

SCENIC LAKE TOBA ALSO STEEPED IN HISTORY by Fardah

 Jakarta, May 18, 2016 (Antara)- Lake Toba and Samosir Island, which is located in the middle of the huge lake, offer a complete tourism package encompassing beautiful scenery, unique Batak culture and traditions, and intriguing history.

        Located in North Sumatra Province, Lake Toba is indeed not just an ordinary lake but is the largest volcanic lake on Earth.

        The ancient lake has been formed by a steep-walled caldera produced during the Toba volcano's eruption, the largest known volcanic eruption on the planet in the past two million years.  The powerful eruption, an extremely rare event, is called a supervolcanic eruption.    
   When viewed from space, the Toba caldera is one of the most striking volcanic craters on Earth, measuring 100 x 30 kilometers.

    The lake's history was recalled during the Wonderful Toba Fun Walk organized in Jakarta on May 15, 2016, and some 10 thousand people took part in it.   
     To promote the lake, a Wonderful Toba Fun Walk was organized in Jakarta on May 15, 2016 and participated by some 10 thousand people.

PRESIDENT JOKOWI ORDERS BETTER CONNECTIVITY, ACCESSIBILITY TO LAKE TOBA by Fardah

Jakarta, March 2, 2016 (Antara) - Designated as a world-class tourist destination, Lake Toba in North Sumatra Province needs to have better connectivity and accessibility, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has stated.

        The President's determination to turn Lake Toba into a priority tourist destination was discussed in a meeting held in a Lake Toba resort in Samosir District, on March 1.

          The meeting was attended, among others, by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, and acting North Sumatra Governor Tengku Erry Nuradi, as well as district heads from regions in the vicinity of Lake Toba.

         Lake Toba is one of the 10 priority tourist destinations selected along with Borobudur, Mandalika, Labuhan Bajo, Bromo-Tengger-Semeru, Seribu (One Thousand) Islands, Wakatobi, Tanjung Lesung, Morotai, and Tanjung Kelayang. 
     President Jokowi has asked the national flag carrier, Garuda Indonesia, to operate  flights to Silangit Airport in North Tapanuli District, to cater to tourists visiting Lake Toba.

SPECIAL AUTHORITY REQUIRED TO MANAGE LAKE TOBA AS WORLD-CLASS DESTINATION by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb 3, 2016 (Antara) - Lake Toba located in North Sumatra Province is not just an ordinary lake but is the largest volcanic lake on Earth.

        The lake has been formed by a steep-walled caldera produced during the Toba volcano's eruption, the largest known volcanic eruption on the planet in the past two million years.

        The powerful eruption, an extremely rare event, is called a supervolcanic eruption.

        When viewed from space, the Toba caldera is one of the most striking volcanic craters on Earth, measuring 100 x 30 kilometers.

        The ancient lake's uniqueness, beautiful natural scenery, and the rich coastal culture of North Sumatra's people living around Lake Toba have attracted several domestic and foreign tourists.

        To boost the tourism industry in North Sumatra Province, the government has designated Lake Toba as a world-class tourist destination aimed at improving the livelihood of the local community.