Likupang to Be Set as Middle-class Tourism, Labuan Bajo Stays Premium: Govt

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Erick Thohir explained the government’s plans for the development of five super-priority tourist destinations, namely Labuan Bajo, Likupang, Borobudur, Mandalika, and Lake Toba. 

Each tourist attraction, according to Erick, would have a different tourism market. “We target Likupang for middle-class tourists, many Chinese tourists visit there,” said Erick in a virtual coordination meeting on tourism today, November 27.

The tourism development project of Likupang in North Sulawesi will be adjusted to the target market. The destination would have wide open space in the form of a lake and other natural sceneries, Erick informed.

Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), meanwhile, will be designated as a premium tourist destination with a limited visitor capacity. One of the spots being developed—other than Komodo Island—is Tana Mori. The region will host the G20 and ASEAN Summit 2023.

“We want Labuan Bajo to have its own target market,” Erick Thohir remarked.

However, Erick claimed the government was facing difficulties in building the basic infrastructure, which was the access from the airport to Tana Mori. The issue was still being discussed with the Public Works and Housing Ministry.

Similar to Labuan Bajo, the government is mulling the need to adjust the visitor capacity at Borobudur Temple, Central Java, in a bid to prevent building damages. “We need to calculate it because our future target is to not have many tourists but quality tourism so the impact will be full,” Erick Thohir said.

Read: Labuan Bajo First Indonesian City with Underground Phone Lines: Luhut

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA