TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo called out the rich Indonesians to build hotels in a number of tourist attractions, particularly in Mandalika, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Lake Toba in North Sumatra, and Borobudur, Central Java.

The President conveyed the statement during a session with the country's businessmen at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, yesterday, June 25. The businessmen were Dato 'Sri Tahir (owner of Mayapada group), Chairul Tanjung (owner of Trans Corp), Hariyadi Sukamdani (owner of Sahid group), Budi Hartono (owner of Djarum group), Hary Tanoesoedibjo (owner of MNC group) and others.

"The President wants hotel entrepreneurs to open hotels in 10 new tourism sites (10 New Bali), especially NTB," said Tahir at the Presidential Palace, Tuesday, June 25. The President Director of Indonesia Tourism Development Center (ITDC) Abdulbar Mansoer also attended the meeting.

Tahir explained that the special economic zone of Mandalika was recommended because the NTB administration had prepared all related infrastructure. "The airport will be enlarged. So President Jokowi asks the hotel businessmen to participate in opening hotels to lure more tourists," he added.

As reported earlier, Indonesia will host the world motorcycle racing competition MotoGP in Mandalika, Lombok in 2021. Tahir said that he had reminded the ITDC President Director that Indonesia might suffer losses for hosting such a racing event.

Therefore, the government must develop other businesses besides hosting MotoGP, such as the tourism sector. "I don't think the MotoGP that is attractive [for tourists], but tourism. So we cannot just focus on MotoGP that is only held once a year," Tahir noted.

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