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Samosir provides free shuttle service to Silangit Airport
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Silangit Airport in North Sumatra. (kompas.com/Bambang Jatmiko)
T
he Samosir administration in North Sumatra is providing free shuttle service for air travelers departing from and arriving at Silangit Airport in the neighboring North Tapanuli regency.
The buses will connect the airport and the Onan Baru Pangururan bus terminal in Samosir.
The service, however, will be only effective until December, after which passengers of the air conditioned buses will have to pay a fee.
Samosir Regent Rapidin Simbolon said the regency's administration had allocated Rp 100 million (US$7,400) from the 2017 regional budget to support the operation of the buses.
"We are providing these buses for the interests of Samosir people and also to support Samosir as an international tourist destination," Rapidin said after the inauguration of the buses at the bus terminal.
In the future, he said, the regency's administration would establish a regency run enterprise (BUMD) to manage the buses.
Previously, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said the airport would attain international status on Oct. 28 as part of efforts to support tourism in North Sumatra, especially Lake Toba and surrounding areas.
Read also: Tourism minister officiates new diving center in Tanjung Lesung
With a 2,650-meter runway, the airport is capable of accommodating mid-size jets such as Boeing B737 and Airbus A320.
Airlines that already fly to the airport include national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, Sriwijaya Air and Wings Air.
Data from PT Angkasa Pura showed that the airport accommodated 300,000 passengers annually. (bbs)
