Imagine trekking through savannah fields and sandy terrain to the peak of Indonesia's second-highest volcano, Mount Rinjani in Lombok. Or picture waking up to the serene beauty of Lake Toba, North Sumatra. These timeless experiences are now enhanced by sustainable tourism efforts under the Indonesia Tourism Development Project (ITDP), a government initiative supported by the World Bank.
These initiatives are making significant impacts in Lake Toba and Lombok by improving infrastructure, expanding access to resources, and empowering local entrepreneurs. Through training and capacity-building, communities ensure that tourism growth benefits people and the environment while preserving cultural and natural heritage.
The ITDP's reach extends beyond these two regions, driving sustainable tourism nationwide. By the end of 2024, ITDP had supported six destinations with improvements such as better water access for 570,000 people and enhancing sanitation for 470,000 individuals. The project also helped over 20,000 businesses expand their online presence and certified over 84,000 tourism professionals.
The initiative attracted over $870 million in private investment and trained 18,000 participants from 155 tourism villages. It is estimated to have created job opportunities for more than 975,000 people across these destinations with a notable increase in average wages (Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas).
Both Lake Toba and Lombok offer unique landscapes but face challenges like poor infrastructure. As part of ITDP, the Government developed Integrated Tourism Master Plans (ITMP) as blueprints for sustainable development. These plans integrate infrastructure development with environmental conservation.
Key improvements include road upgrades like the Pemenang-Bayan-Sembalun road and water systems in Senaru and Sembalun. Projections show these will benefit 1.6 million people in Lombok by December 2024.
Lake Toba holds significant potential with over 197,000 travelers visiting North Sumatra in 2023. The project focuses on upgrading infrastructure like roads while preserving Batak culture through geotourism sites.
A local entrepreneur from Sibaganding Village named Indah highlights how ITDP’s training has helped her coffee business grow: “I worked in Medan before returning to my village...We’ve received training and support,” she says.
In Lombok after the earthquake of 2018, ITDP focused on disaster resilience alongside infrastructure development. The Sembalun Water Management System is a key improvement addressing clean water issues managed by Pamdesma Selojar Sembalun organization: “We are ready to manage the water supply network according to our business plan,” says Mr. Rusdin.
Both regions emphasize community involvement for environmental sustainability; Sandubaya waste management facility turns waste into valuable resources like paving blocks while exploring maggots for organic waste solutions: “Household waste is processed into maggot feed...,” says Yusril Arwan.
The success stories from Lake Toba and Lombok exemplify Indonesia’s commitment towards balancing economic growth with environmental preservation ensuring long-term prosperity while safeguarding traditions & natural beauty.