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THE Provincial Government of North Sumatra noted that foreign tourist visits have increased after the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on data from the North Sumatra Tourism Office, foreign tourists visiting North Sumatra in 2021 recorded 230 people and in 2022 recorded 74,498 people.
“While in the January-June 2023 period the figure reached 94,815 people. The tourism sector in North Sumatra (Sumut) has the potential to support economic acceleration. Development of tourist destinations, including Lake Toba and other areas that can encourage an increase in foreign tourist visits,” said North Sumatra Governor Edy Rahmayadi, in Medan, North Sumatra, Wednesday (8/09), 2023.
“Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in 2022, it was recorded that 74,498 foreign tourists came to North Sumatra via Kualanamu Airport, Belawan Seaport, Tanjungbalai Asahan Seaport, and Silangit Airport. A total of 62,753 of them were tourists from neighboring countries, such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. Meanwhile, tourist arrivals from countries outside Asia but outside Southeast Asia, namely India, China, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea will reach 2,436 people in 2022,” he said.
He explained, the number of tourists from Europe was slightly higher, namely 6,364 people from countries from the Netherlands, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Portugal and England.
Others, are 1,244 tourists from America and 97 tourists from Africa. Wider promotion globally Edy said that the inclusion of the Toba Caldera Geopark in the UNESCO-recognized Geopark list also contributed to the promotion of the Lake Toba destination to the world level.
“Thus increasing the number of foreign tourists, encouraging an increase in local community income and local revenue, and creating an advanced and dignified North Sumatra,” he said.
According to him, the development of tourism in North Sumatra needs to look again at the various potentials in terms of beauty, cultural heritage, culinary, religion, and nature.
Meanwhile, Head of North Sumatra’s Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy Service Zumri Sulthony said, although tourist visits had dropped during the pandemic, the numbers have risen again as the provincial government echoes the tagline “DiSumutAja” and makes applications integrated into districts/cities.
“So, now we have a digital application “DISUMUTAJA” which is integrated into all 33 regencies/cities, tour guides and travel agents. For both local and foreign tourists, they can access, see, and plan for a trip to North Sumatra,” Zumri concluded. [antaranews/photo special]
