TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government will focus on tourism development in three main destinations, namely Mandalika, Borobudur, and Lake Toba. This step is taken to achieve the target of having 20 million visits per year in 2017.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said on Friday, October 21, that the development will be done in an integrated manner across ministries.

"We expect to finalize it by early next month. Later we decide on who does what," he said after a meeting at the Vice Presidential Office in Jakarta, which was attended by other ministers and BKPM chief Tom Lembong.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, who was also at the meeting, said there would be a loan from the World Bank for the development said three destinations. The total loan will reach US$200 million.

The government plans to build 10 tourist destinations, which requires US$20 billion. Arief said that if we assume US$20 billion is worth Rp200 trillion, the funds needed to construct public utilities is estimated to reach Rp100 trillion, of which the government is only able to provide Rp30 trillion.

That's why, he said, the project needs external funding, for example from the World Bank. The other Rp100 trillion is expected to come from private investors.

Tom Lembong said this is an opportunity for the private sector to invest in tourism development.

He said the BKPM is ready to ensure that the development will become bankable and investable projects.

AMIRULLAH