"This morning, we hold a limited cabinet meeting to discuss efforts to speed up development of the four priority tourist destinations," Jokowi stated.
The four priority tourist destinations are Labuan Baju in East Nusa Tenggara, Toba Lake in North Sumatra, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara, and Borobudur complex.
Among the attendees at the meeting were Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, Deputy Foreign Minister AM Fachir, Deputy Finance Minister Mardiasmo, Agrarian and Spatial Planning Minister Sofyan Djalil, State Enter Prises (BUMN) Minister Rini Soemarno, Environmental Affairs and Forestry MinisterSiti Nurbaya, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, and Governor of Yogyakarta Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X.
Tourism could become the main engine of the economy and economic growth at the central and regional levels, he stated.
"Hence, development of the four priority tourist destinations must be accelerated," he emphasized.
The president pointed to the slow on-field progress in the development of the four destinations.
Jokowi has set a target to complete development of the four priority tourist destinations in 2020, to coincide with the completion of airport construction.
"Here, when Yogyakarta's airport is completed in March, Borobudur will also be ready, so then the promotion will be conducted," he stated.
He noted that since access to Borobudur temple is deemed important, so development and renovation are necessary.
The president called to construct more roads around the ancient Buddhist temple.
The president remarked that a cap will be put on the number of tourists climbing to the top of Borobudur Temple in future, he noted. Borobudur Temple is renowned worldwide for its primeval and gigantic mountain-shape building, reliefs, statues, and stupas. The world's largest Buddhist temple has been known worldwide especially after the site of worship was included on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage list in 1991.
Built during the reign of a king from the Saliendra Dynasty between 750 and 842 AD, the temple is located in Mendut Village, Magelang District, Central Java Province, some 42 kilometers from Yogyakarta City, at the center of Java Island.
Translator: Agus Salim, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
