MEDAN, Indonesia, 24 February 2021: A new initiative to put the Lake Toba region on the tourist map gained Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy endorsement at the weekend.
In a policy announcement delivered on Saturday, Tourism Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, encouraged the public to “get behind the new #BeliKreatifDanauToba movement” (BKDT).
The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy attended the launch of Beli Kreatif Danau Toba at Debang Resort, Dairi, North Sumatra.
He announced the new policy alongside a series of guidelines by the Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan; the Governor of the Bank Indonesia Perry Warjiyo; Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati; Minister of Communications and Information Johny Gerard Plate, and the Vice Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Angela Tanoesoedibjo from Balige North Sumatra; and the Regent of Dairi Regency Eddy Keleng Ate Berutu.
Leading by example, Sandiaga wore a traditional songket Tapak Catur with the Ulos Simalungun motif by local fashion designer, Irsan.
“I came directly from Dairi Regency wearing my traditional Tapak Catur songket clothes specifically to express my appreciation to this incredibly creative designer and to demonstrate my wholehearted support for the Beli Kreatif Danau Toba movement.
“This outfit is one of the many examples of local Toba products that have been transformed into one of Indonesian’s exclusive economic products,” the Minister explained.
The #BeliKreatifDanauToba (BKDT) movement focuses on providing support for local Toba-based businesses through up-skilling and
helping artisans expand domestic sales or export volume to increase turnover and employment.
The central BKDT policy is based on three strategies: innovation, adaptation, and collaboration to stimulate the tourism and creative economy sector in Indonesia.
The Minister added: “The three strategies and series of programmes are designed to help facilitate the growth of Lake Toba’s 5,700 creative economy artisanal businesses in North Sumatra.”
He noted: “In addition, as a grassroots campaign for the country, each has been designed with collaboration in mind between ministries, local governments, marketplaces, MSE communities, and creative economy actors so we can all play our part and show our support for Indonesia’s development.”
Promotions are underway to position Lake Toba as a ‘Super Priority Destination’, with development to be monitored by President Joko Widodo.
“Through this programme, the ministry wants to encourage a sense of pride in the purchase and use of local products from North Sumatra among the public so that we can actively take part in national economic recovery,” Sandiaga explained.
(SOURCE: Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy)
Well worth the visit. A very long time ago I walked into a Singapore travel agency and asked for a holiday pack of 5 days or so. Off I was sent to Medan and Lake Toba with a group of fun Singaporeans and had a wonderful time there. The countryside is magnificent, the traditional homes a wonder and the ancient ceremonies to give you the shivers, ill never forget those few days and would recommend to anyone and everyone !