"This requires large investment. It requires large budget from the APBN (the state budget) so that the combination of the state budget and investment is what I think can encourage. The two things should indeed be integrated so as to make Lake Toba a tourist destination that really has classes," the president said after reviewing Sipinsur Geosite in Humbang Hasundutan District, North Sumatra Province, Monday.
According to the head of state, there are 28 tourist destinations that can be developed as they have historical and cultural values as well as natural scenery in Lake Toba.
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To make it an integrated tourist area, the government is to develop human resources and create a regional brand to make it different from other Indonesia's tourist areas such as Bali and Mandalika (West Nusa Tenggara) .
"What means by the integrated aspect is all about the products, the human resources, the packaging, the branding, the difference from Bali and Mandalika," the president said in a press release from the Press, Media and Information Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat.
The president paid a working visit to North Sumatra for three days since Monday (July 29) afternoon.
The accompanying members of the president's entourage are First Lady Iriana Widodo, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko, North Sumatra Governor Edy Rahmayadi, and Humbang Hasundutan District Head Dosmar Banjarnahor.
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Translator: Bayu Prasetyo/Bambang Purwanto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
