TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Tourism Ministry will intensively promote Lake Toba as Wonderful Indonesia and Pesona Indonesia through Lake Toba Festival (FDT) that will be held at Brastagi, Karo Regency, North Sumatera, on November 19-22.
“The government and tourism stakeholders are implementing Lake Toba revitalization program,” said Tourism Minister Arief Yahya on Wednesday, November 11.
Arief said the FDT will become an effective promotion tool in restoring Lake Toba’s popularity as a world-class geopark-based destination. “We have set 10 new destinations as priorities. One of them is Lake Toba to be developed as a world destination,” he said.
The FDT is also a commitment of the local government and tourism stakeholders in North Sumatera that want Lake Toba to be recognized globally. “Hopefully we can enhance social welfare.”
North Sumatera acting governor Tengku Erry Nuradi said Lake Toba has a historical advantage as a mountain with the largest eruption or super volcano. Around 75,000 years ago, Toba’s super volcano generated caldera and gave rise to Lake Toba and Samosir Island.
“Lake Toba also has appealing natural and cultural attractions. We want to intensify promotion to attract tourists to North Sumatera,” said Tengku Erry.
The FDT will feature sport tourism and cultural arts attractions, such as ulos carnival, geopark carnival, traditional ceremony, solu bolon competition, singing competition and performances by local performers.
ABDUL AZIS
