President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) rode his green customized motorcycle from Sibisa Intersection in Toba district to Parapat Beach in Simalungun district to review the revitalized public facilities on the beach on Wednesday.

The beach is located in the Lake Toba Super-Priority Tourism Destination (DPSP) area of North Sumatra province.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, as well as Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno also rode their motorbikes behind the President.

Widodo said that he deliberately used a motorbike since he wanted to feel the fresh air around the lake.

“The air is very fresh. Thus, it is such a disadvantage if you do not ride a motorbike to come here,” he remarked.

He said that he also wanted to check the supporting infrastructure for the tourism attraction, especially the road – whether it was smooth or not.

“I assess that 80 percent of the road has been smooth, while the rest is still a little bit bumpy. I have told the Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Minister about it,” he informed.

According to the press bureau of the Presidential Secretariat, the 11-kilometer route taken by the entourage offers beautiful views at a number of spots.

In addition to the fresh air, the road is winding, a characteristic that distinguishes it from the road in Mandalika area, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province, which was also tested by the President, it added.

“The road in Mandalika area is straight,” Widodo noted.

He further said he hoped that the existing road infrastructure would be connected and integrated with a number of surrounding tourism areas.

“If possible, all of the areas should be integrated. However, it has not been able to be carried out in the near future since we have set a priority scale of which areas will be developed next,” he added.

Source: Antara News