T

he Samosir regency, located on the famous island in the middle of Lake Toba in North Sumatra, is seeking innovation to improve its recognition as an environmentally attractive tourist destination.

Aggressive targets have been announced by the regency administration following the re-installation of Mangindar Simbolon as regent. Simbolon was re-elected for a second term last September.

Samosir Tourism Office chief Melani Butar-Butar said the people fully supported the idea to make Samosir an eco-tourism destination.

The program will be a continuation of aspirations developed by Mangindar during his previous term of office, Melani said.

“For five years the regency’s mission was focused on promoting the introduction of Samosir as a beautiful and peaceful area,” he said Saturday.

Over the next five years emphasis would be on innovative development of eco-tourism, he added.

When asked how the Samosir regency would achieve its goal, Melani said the administration had already made preparations for improving several factors to support the goal, such as enhancing accessibility, upgrading amenities and facilitating options for visiting nearby environmental attractions and other economic facilities.

The Samosir regency was eager to expand upon the outstanding potentials that exist naturally at Lake Toba, Melani said, adding that tourism on Samosir Island already constituted the main driver behind improving the people’s welfare in the area.

“Through tourism, all sectors in Samosir are expected to start rolling, thereby generating positive impacts for the improved welfare of the local people,” said Melani, who expressed confidence that economic development in Samosir would accelerate if the tourism sector was prioritized by the regional administration and supported by the local people.

According to its 2010 budget, Samosir’s regional income was expected to reach Rp 21.04 billion, of which Rp 3.01 billion would come from taxes and Rp 4.70 billion from levies.

Regional income in Samosir tended to increase from year to year in line with the rising number of tourists arriving in the regency, Melani said. Aside that, income was backed up by the steady growth in agricultural development, he added.

The Samosir regency was established in 2003 after being separated from Toba Samosir regency under Law No. 36/2003. The regency has a total area of 254,715 hectares with a population of about 131,205.

Samosir has twice conducted local elections to select its regent, where both times Mangindar emerged the victor.

House of Regional Representatives (DPD) North Sumatra legislator Parlindungan Purba said he also fully supported the regency’s plan to make Samosir an eco-toursim destination. Samosir has all the potential to do so because of its strategic location in the middle of Lake Toba, he said.

As a new regency, Samosir has the chance to grow if both tourism and agriculture are developed properly, Parlindungan said.

“I’m optimistic that as a new regency Samosir will have a bright future,” he said.

”The most important thing here is there should be synergy between the regional administration and the people for tapping both tourism and agriculture potentials,” said Parlindungan, who recently enjoyed success promoting the Lake Toba Festival in Samosir and its surrounding areas.