President Jokowi promises new ferry, quays for Samosir

Samosir, N Sumatra (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) promised on Sunday a new ferry and repairs of quays in Lake Toba to support tourism development in the Samosir District.

Jokowi, who was on a visit to North Sumatra, said he hoped the ferry would be available before the end of this year and repairs of quays are also expected this year.

The government has promised fund to transform Lake Toba into a world class tourism object.

"I will provide the best ferry, hopefully before the end of this year," he told the people of Samosir, an island in the countrys largest lake.

The president also promised immediate steps by the government to cope with shortage in clean water and power supply in areas around Lake Toba.

He even hinted plan to open a tourism academy in North Sumatra.

"I will first form a team to see that lecturers are available after that I will give the answer as soon as possible," he said.

The president noted the new Silangit airport was not maintained well as no aircraft had landed on it when he visited there three or four months earlier.

He said he had ordered for the extension of the airport runway and renovation of the passenger terminal

"Extension of the runway and renovation of the terminal are expected to be completed by the end of this year to facilitate tourists to Lake Toba," he said.

Reconstruction of the Tanah Ponggol bridge spanning the water canal between the island and the mainland would be carried out in 2017 to be finished in two years, he added.

The entourage of the president included Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, Minister at the State Secretariat Pratikno, Environment and Forest Minister Siti Nurbaya, Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, and Public Works Minister Basuki Hadimuljono.

Samosir Regent Rapidin Simbolon reported to the president progress made in the district development pointing to the operation of the Silangit Airport, increase in power supply and the construction of Samosir ring road.

Rapidin, however, said there were still 850 households without electricity and shortage in clean water supply in the district.

"Failure to include the Toba caldera into the UNs list of Geopark was caused by inadequate infrastructure," he added.(*)

Sumber : http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/106351/president-jokowi-promises-new-ferry-quays-for-samosir

By admin
23 Aug 2016
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INSA