The hotel, built through a collaboration between the ministry's Lake Toba Authority (BPODT) and the private sector, is located in the Toba Caldera Resort (TCR), BPODT Director Jimmy Bernardo Panjaitan said.
The hotel's concept is in accordance with the environmentally friendly Lake Toba development master plan, he added.
"The building is semi-permanent and brings tourists to get closer to nature," he remarked.
From the capsule hotel's location, guests can enjoy the natural beauty of Lake Toba with a "technological twist", Panjaitan informed.
The hotel offers several facilities such as smart glass windows, mood lamps, and Bluetooth audio speakers that can be controlled directly by visitors through a mobile phone application, he elaborated.
Currently, the capsule hotel has four cabins priced at Rp1 million per night, he informed. By the end of the year, the hotel targets to have 30 units, he added.
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Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the hotel is starting to attract tourists, with the occupancy rate reaching at least 50 percent per day, under the observance of strict health protocols, Panjaitan said.
"We designed the hotel specifically not to damage nature, so people who come can enjoy the natural atmosphere. We tried to be environmentally friendly, so people can enjoy nature," he added.
William, a visitor from Medan, said he chose to stay at the capsule hotel because it offered a different experience compared to other hotels.
"The atmosphere and scenery are no different than when we travel abroad. It is very comfortable and calm," he remarked.
In the future, BPODT will work with local craftsmen to utilize wood waste to make creative products of high economic value, Panjaitan said.
"We hope our program would improve the welfare of the local community around Lake Toba," he added.
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Translator: Juraidi, Doni A, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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