TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said that his ministry allocated Rp2 trillion to develop and enhance the connectivity of five super-priority tourist destinations dubbed New Bali this year.

The five destinations are Lake Toba in West Sumatra, Borobudur in Central Java, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara, and Likupang in North Sulawesi.

Minister said that the President maintained the focus on infrastructure development. Albeit it was emphasized on the development of human resources, infrastructure was still deemed as the backbone of the development to improve the connectivity.

“We have granted funds at some Rp2 trillion, but it is not part of the SOE Ministry’s budgets and private investment. People are willing to invest Rp1 trillion. We will build more ports and facilities,” he said on Thursday, November 7.

The minister targeted to solve issues in the five priority destinations within a year. He also planned to build several airports as well as integrate land, sea, and air transportations.

He was optimistic that the project would meet for completion despite a tight deadline. “That’s the challenge because we have to finish the construction as to create intermodal accessibility in the tourist areas,” he added.

Budi Karya further pinned hope the connectivity construction and tourism would encourage the country’s competitiveness in the international amid the difficult climate of the global economy. “We have beautiful and potential [tourist destinations] that I believe could contribute the most to the state revenue,” he said.

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