T

our operators and the Samosir administration have committed to promoting Lake Toba using a new tourism route in North Sumatra, which will offer a more convenient way to enjoy new tourism destinations.

The commitment was made after the conclusion of a recent familiarization trip that aimed to revive tourism in the area, which has become stagnant.

The trip was participated in by hundreds of foreign and domestic visitors and coordinated by 16 travel agencies in Medan.

A tour operator from Suryawtama Travel, Leonardi Sarwo, said tourism in North Sumatra needed innovations, such as a new destination route to color tourism in the province.

'€œFrankly speaking, we, travel agents, face difficulties in selling the same tour packages in North Sumatra, such as Brastagi, Parapat and Bahorok. Foreign and domestic tourists are bored with them,'€ Leonardi told The Jakarta Post over the weekend.

He said that under the agreement, tourists would be offered a package tour with a new route, which started from Kuala Namu International Airport in Deli Serdang regency and continued to Berastagi and Simalem Park in Karo regency and ended at Lake Toba and Samosir Island.

Presently, tourists visiting Lake Toba endure a five- to six-hour road trip, traveling from Medan to Pematang Siantar city to the lake. They usually face congestion from Lubuk Pakam city to Tebing Tinggi city.

Meanwhile, using the new route will take only three to four hours to reach Lake Toba. Visitors can also stop at Berastagi and Simalem Park before continuing onto the lake for another one or two hours.

Leonardi said the joint agreement that would introduce new destinations along the new route gave new hope to tourism players in the province.

Another tour operator from Simalem Park Resort, Eddi Sukardi, said fellow tour operators were upbeat that tourism in North Sumatra would progress with the destinations along the new route.

He said they had begun promoting the tour package to potential clients overseas.

'€œForeign visitors have responded to the new route very well. Some people from Malaysia and the Netherlands have registered at a number of travel agencies to try the new destinations along the route,'€ said Eddi.

Eddi said tourists could visit Simanindo, Tigaras and Tao islands to see the beautiful and natural panorama during their stay at Lake Toba. They can also visit the Batak house museum and watch Batak dance performances to
get a glimpse of the traditions
of the indigenous people in the province.

Eddi said the new destinations along the route would be developed to raise the potential of tourism in North Sumatra.

Samosir Tourism Agency head Ombang Siboro said tour operators played a vital role in promoting tourism in the region.

'€œWe appreciate efforts to promote tourism in Lake Toba. There is still a lot of tourist potential in Lake Toba that has yet to be developed,'€ Ombang said, adding that visitors should also experience the beach, hot springs, art and culture in the province.