Berastagi, N Sumatra (Antara) - Lake Toba is one of the 10 main tourist destinations whose development is being prioritized by the government, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya stated.
"Lake Toba is the pride of Indonesia as it combines beautiful panorama and the lake's coastal culture," the minister noted here on Thursday.
The government has prepared several policies for the development of Lake Toba.
The government plans to set up a special agency to manage and boost the tourism potential of Lake Toba that covers seven districts in North Sumatra.
The government plans to revitalize and improve infrastructure facilities, including roads and water and electricity supply networks, among others.
The tourism sector has employed some 11 million people and contributed foreign exchange worth around US$11 billion in the previous years.
Lake Toba's tourism industry is expected to contribute Rp30 trillion by 2019.
North Sumatra's authorities have been urged to organize international events, such as the "Tour de Toba" cycling race to attract tourists.
The local government hopes that the Toba Caldera Geopark would be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2017.
Lake Toba among 10 tourism destinations prioritized by government
Lake Toba (ANTARA LAMPUNG/Hisar Sitanggang)
