N. Sumatra gets ready for Toba Lake festival

The Jakarta Post | Sat, 10/09/2010 11:29 AM

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Seven cities and regencies in North Sumatra declared Lake Toba Cleanup campaign in their respective regions to welcome the upcoming Lake Toba Festival.

The campaign will involve Simalungun, Toba Samosir, North Tapanuli, Humbang Hasundutan, Samosir, Dairi and Asahan.

The festival’s organizing committee secretary, Arthur MD Batubara, said the campaign is held to raise people awareness on the lake’s cleanliness.

He said the lake’s popularity was declining since its cleanliness was not maintained.

The festival, scheduled from Oct. 20-24, will highlight the environment as its theme, he said.

“We see there is a need to seriously take care of Lake Toba, mainly on the environment aspect,” he told The Jakarta Post after the campaign’s declaration at Parapat tourist site Friday.

“We hope that through the festival, the lake becomes clean and beautiful so it can attract tourists both local and foreign to visit.” — JP