TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The development project of ten tourist villages in the Toba Caldera, or known as Lake Toba, North Sumatra has officially commenced today, July 10, 2020.

“It is marked with a groundbreaking ceremony,” said Arie Prasetyo as the head of the tourism authority of the Toba Caldera in a press conference in Jakarta, Friday, July 10.

The groundbreaking ceremony, Arie added, was attended by Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Wishnutama.

The project development is part of the efforts to support the Toba Caldera as the national super-priority tourism destination. Since mid-April 2020, Luhut had demanded the project begin by July.

There are at least ten tourist villages to be developed: three villages in Humbang Hasundutan regency, four villages in Toba regency, and three villages in North Tapanuli regency.

The villages require a variety of improvements in their main infrastructure, such as road access (in seven villages), clean water supplies (five villages), human resources training (three villages), and renovation of traditional houses (two villages).

The ten tourist villages will also undergo a One Village One Product (OVOP) pilot program. All developments are supported by the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds of state-run oil and gas firm Pertamina and state pawnshop Pegadaian.

Earlier reports said Lake Toba was named one of UNESCO's Global Geoparks on Tuesday, July 2, 2020, during the 209th session of the UNESCO Executive Council in Paris.

Read: Luhut: No Budget Cuts for 5 Tourism Projects

FAJAR PEBRIANTO