TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PROSPECT OF WEST SUMATERA

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PROSPECT OF WEST SUMATERA
By : Ermina Miranti 1


Since 2005, Indonesian government has decided West Sumatra as one of
Indonesian main tourism targets. Well known with its natural beauty and cultural richness,
West Sumatra is very potential to be developed as tourism area, both natural (i.e.
mountains, costal) / cultural tourism and eco tourism. Moreover, the opening of
‘Minangkabau International Airport’ in July 2005, made West Sumatra – also known as
Ranah Minang – accessible to many countries. This year, local government has launched
numbers of tourism attractions and packages through “Visit Minangkabau Year 2006”
program. Various international events will be performed here. Among those events,
there are International Peace Walk and Women Walk involve more than 400 foreign
tourists and world walking clubs from about 22 countries, and international surfing
competition which will be held in Siberut island, Mentawai.

Sadly, West Sumatra natural beauty which are a harmonious blend of mountains,
valleys, lakes and beaches with unique culture, haven’t been managed well, thus the
tourism industry in this area nearly stagnant. However, with sufficient development in
tourism infrastructure and promotion, West Sumatra is predicted not to be inferior to
Bali.

Agricultural Sector as Main Economic Focus
West Sumatra Province areas mostly are highland of Bukit Barisan Mountains,
lengthways from south to north, whereas the rest of the areas are lowland, lengthways
from south to north faced Indian Ocean. West Sumatra Province located next to North
Sumatra and Riau in the north side, Jambi in the east side, Indian Ocean in the west side
and Bengkulu in the south side. The area that use matrilineal system in consanguinity
system, occupy area with 42.2 thousand square kilometers width, consist of 12 sub-
provinces, 7 towns and 158 districts. In 2004 the population of West Sumatra (according
to Central Agency of Statistic (BPS)) reached 4.5 million, and 98% of them are Moslem.

Differ from other regions surrounding, West Sumatra relatively has limited
natural resources. Nevertheless, this area, which has beautiful natural views in Indonesia,
has highlands which suitable for various corps including vegetables and fruits which
some of them marketed to Singapore and Malaysia. In one of the highlands, Sileh Hill,
Lembang Raya District, Solok Sub-Province, some years ago have been developed as

1 Economic and Business Analyst in State Owned Bank in Jakarta
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potato plantation with Germany seeds and directly guide by German agricultural expert
which almost entirely has been exported to Germany.

Besides, some area also compatible and have been developed for palm oil, tea,
resin, rubber, coffee, cinnamon and coconut plantation, so that most of Gross Regional
Domestic Product (GRDP) of this Province convergence in agricultural sector. In 2003 for
example, farming sector contribute 23.6% of total West Sumatra GRDP. The next
contributors are from commerce, hotel & transportation and restaurant &
communication.

Table 1. Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of West Sumatra Province
By Sectors (in billion Rupiah)

2003
Industrial Sector
2000
2001
2001
Rp. Billion
% Share
Farming
5,099 5,823 6,651 7,548 23.6
Mining
800 897 1,020
1,055 3,3
Manufacturing
3,060 3,418 3,746 3,937 12.3
Industry
Electricity, Gas &
296 373 548 697 2.2
Clean Water
Construction
1,027 1,181 1,290 1,466 4.6
Trade, Hotel &
4,044 4,639 5,201 5,619 17.5
Restaurant
Transportation &
3,020 3,442 4,290 4,718 14.7
Communication
Financial, Leasing &
1,074 1,241 1,417 1,594 5.0
Company Services
Other Services
4,041 4,041 4,945 5,387 16.6
Total
22,462
25,415
29,107
32,023
100
Source: Central Agency of Statistic, GRDP According to Town / Sub-province in Indonesia, 2000-2003.

Minangkabau International Airport.


Aware of its relatively limited natural resources, local government start to
consider tourism sector as one of earning sources of West Sumatra, moreover targeted
as main tourism object in Indonesia.

The ambition of local government to make West Sumatra as main tourism object
has been a dream for tens of years now. The development of Minangkabau International
Airport, which located 29 kilometers north of Padang, is part of the dream. The Airport
which is just opened in July 2005, has been planned since 20 years ago. However, because
of the government limited budget and followed by economic crisis, its development
experienced several times postponement. Development just started in 2002 and finished
in May 2005. Removing the airport from Tabing which has limited capacities, to Ketaping
with the length of its racing base 2,750 meter that capable to be landed by wide planes
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like Airbus and Boeing 737-400, expected to widen the access to international world –
the main reason why some international flights delay opening its route to Padang.
In line with Minangkabau International Airport development, the government also
renovates the existing roads. Besides the development of new roads, all existing roads
including those in little towns will be hot-mixed. To smoothen the accessibility to the
airport, the Sumatra Padang-Bukittinggi middle by-pass, start from Tabing to Simpang
Duku in Padang Pariaman Sub-Province which originally one line (two rows), nowadays
widened and become two lines (four rows) separated by green line. During 2004, there
are at least around 40 roads and bridges development projects in West Sumatra worth
Rp. 198 billion. Among those projects there are Solok By-Pass, a pioneer project road in
Solok Sub-Province, Lubuk Alung By-Pass in Padang Pariaman Sub-Province and Maninjau-
Lawang road in Agam Sub-Province. The other Project is Sicincin Malalak road with 50
kilometers length and it is widen from 11 meters to 15 meters. This road will become the
alternative road that connects Padang - Bukittinggi. There’s also Kelok Sembilan fly-over
project, started in 2005, connected Bukittinggi with Riau Province.
Attempted to develop coastal tourism, the government also build up coastal road
with 2 lines (four rows) to the Airport, length about 22.9 kilometers. Thus, tourists ride
from and to the airport will fulfilled with interesting and beautiful Padang coastal views.
Coastal area in Padang, which initially abandoned, now is being renovated and there are
2 lines road being developed so that it looks even prettier. Every afternoon, thousands of
local citizen and tourists visit this coast to enjoy the beauty of sun sets and watching
fisherman go to the sea.

Transportation infrastructure improvement is also conducted in road which
connected Padang with Solok Sub-Province through the development of Cupak By-Pass
alternative road in Solok Sub-Province, length 2.5 kilometers. The project worth Rp 79.9
billion and followed with straight-lining and widening in the critical areas - areas with
large potency for accident; winding and slanting upward roads - length about 4.5
kilometers. Therefore, a road from Padang to Solok which at first a foggy (because of its
cold temperature), winding, full of dangerous upward because it pass deep ravine in one
side of the road, nowadays build wider and straighter, pass trough calcium hills along the
road. The journey from Padang - Solok which at first is not comfortable because of the
sharp turns and took about 1.5 hours, now can be traveled only 45 minutes. In Solok sub-
province, the development and improvement of hot mixed roads are conducted
throughout country sides, so that travel to tourism areas in Solok sub province such as
Kembar Lake (Diatas Lake and Dibawah Lake) and Singkarak Lake can be passed
comfortably with shorter time.

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Tourism Potency
With the geographic condition that is a blend of mountains, valleys, coasts and
lakes, West Sumatra full of tens of areas representing natural views that are beautiful
and interesting to be visited. It does not include historical places, and various crafts that
could not be less interesting.
Tourism places in West Sumatra spread almost evenly in almost all city or sub-
province. In Padang, the capital city of West Sumatra, which based on ‘adat basandi
syara’, syara’ basandi kitabullah’ (people custom based on syaria, and syaria based on the
holly Koran) has some costal tourism objects such as Bungus, Karang Tirta, Padang beach,
Caroline beach, Tourism Area of Air Manis, Malin Kundang, Padang Mountain, etc. Bungus
is one of tourism objects that often been visited for its beautiful white beach that is
cozy to be swam, motor boat ride of just enjoy sun sets, colored with the view of
fisherman boats heading to the ocean. In here you can find motor boat rent to the little
islands around, such as Sirandah island, Sikoaci Pagang island and Pasumpahan island.

From Padang to Solok Sub-Province, there are Hutan Raya Bung Hatta Park which
located about 20 kilometers from the heart of Padang. In the area of 70,000 hectares,
we can find several rare and protected plants and animals. The cool air of the mountain
and beautiful views, colored with the singing of the birds and voices of various animals,
make this area become a favorite tourism area. Solok Sub-Province which had it capital
removed from Solok to Arosuko (Kayu Aro and Sukarami), a cool and beautiful place in
Bukit Barisan, contours, hilly and have valleys. This green and fertile area placed in 400 -
1,700 meters above sea level, has 4 lakes which are Singkarak Lake (the 2nd Indonesia
biggest lake, after Toba Lake), Talang Lake, Diatas Lake and Dibawah Lake.
Diatas Lake and Dibawah Lake also known as Kembar Lake because they almost
have the same size and they’re placed closer with each other. The journey to Kembar
Lake from Padang - Simpang Lubuak Silasih - Kembar Lake, tourists will enjoy the view of
winding, upward and sliding roads. In the other side of the road is green hill and the
other side is ravine and green valley with amazing colors. Ravine and valley all the way
from Simpang Lubuak Silasiah to Gumanti valley, have an astonishing view and the
beauty of it was hard to be describe with words. One of the Indonesian man of letters,
Rosihan Anwar in his writings in one of national newspaper, describes the beauty of the
valleys along Gumanti valley equal with the beauty of Grand Canyon in USA. Diatas Lake,
placed in Gumanti valley, about 1,600 meters above sea level, with depth only 44 meters
and the size of 17.2 square kilometers (6.12 x 2.75 kilometers). Whereas Dibawah Lake
placed in Batu Dalam village, several kilometers above Gumanti valley. Located in 1,566
meters above sea level, with 886 meters depth and the size of 16.9 square kilometers,
this lake has various fishes that can be found in the market of Bukit Sileh village which
only opens every Friday.
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Around Kembar Lake area, there are tea plantation owned by PT. Perkebunan
Nusantara VI which is exported to many countries such as Sri Lanka, India and Middle East.
This area also has been developed as agro-tourism area. Besides tea, along the sidewalk
can be found passion fruit, cabbage, Dutch eggplant (specific fruit in this area with
sweet & sour taste), and various vegetables that can be an interesting tourism object.
Lately, passion fruit plantation has become one of the main products in this area, and
successfully increased the local economic condition.
Because of the atmosphere and its natural beauty, this area with 14-16 degrees
Celsius, suited for tourism, convention, outbound, tracking, water sport, etc. However,
until this time, there is only Diatas Lake that already has been developed as tourism area
and still minimally managed. In the area with the total size of 40 hectares, the
government already built a community hall with 800 people capacity, 2 big villas with
two floors, and 2 small villas and 10 cottages. While in Dibawah Lake, we can still see a
very natural lake that has not been touched by tourism facilities.
In Solok, we can still see numbers of Minangkabau cultural house (also known by
‘Rumah Gadang’) with carvings and marvelous colors.

Singkarak Lake is located in the area that is lower, compared than Kembar Lake.
The Lake with 13,011 hectares size is the second largest Lake in Indonesia after Toba Lake.
Lake is one of favorable tourism objects that has been developed to attract tourists, so
that it has complete tourists facilities such as hotels & restaurant. This lake is also often
be a place to held tourism and adventurous activities such as paragliding followed by
participant from across Indonesia and foreign countries such as Japan, Australian, Canada,
India, Sweden, Philippine And USA.
Tourism potencies can also be found in Agam Sub-Province with Bukittinggi as its
capital. The town used to be the capital of Indonesia in the government era of Soekarno,
is surrounded by 3 volcanoes which are Singgalang, Marapi and Tandikat. In the middle of
the town, there is Jam Gadang (Big Clock) which becomes the icon of this town. Besides
numbers of interesting tourism objects in this cold town, there also can be found various
people handicrafts such as embroidery, stitching, and various traditional food. The
embroidery and stitching works of Bukittinggi are famous in its good quality and has
been exported to many countries such as Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Europe and Middle
East. Tourism objects that are famous in this area are Ngarai Sianok, Fort de Kock Fortress,
Japan Cave, Jam Gadang and Maninjau Lake. Bukittinggi is also one of the vegetables
centers in West Sumatra.
Ngarai Sianok is one of the natural tourism objects that become West Sumatra
pride. A valley with 100 - 150 meters depth, and stretch 15 kilometers with 200 meters
width, has become one of wonders of the world and has natural beauty which is difficult
to be portrayed with words and difficult to meet its match in Indonesia. Ngarai Sianok
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looks very colorful, surrounded by green valley and watered by Sianok River which has
crystal clear water at the bottom of the valley. In the Dutch period, this valley often be
called by Kerbau Sanget because there are so many buffalo lived freely in this area.

Maninjau Lake located 36 km from Bukittinggi and represents the 3rd biggest lakes
in Indonesia, sized 9.950 hectares. This lake is also as beautiful as Kembar Lake or
Singkarak Lake, so that many tourists visit from Europe, USA, Japan, Australia, and not
forget to mention domestic tourists, visit this lake. One of national man of letters wrote
the beauty of Maninjau Lake that can be compared with lakes in Luzern, Zurich or Geneva
(Switzerland) which are famous around the world. One uniqueness of the city is that the
journey to the lake has to pass 44 sharp turns which are famous with the name of ‘Kelok
Ampek-Ampek’ (The 44 turns). From Padang, Kelok Ampek-Ampek located in the edge of
Lake Maninjau, upward, winding sharply to the left and right toward the sky of Bukit
Barisan. In the opposite, from Bukittinggi, Kelok Ampek-Ampek winding downward the
back of Bukit Barisan straight trough Maninjau Lake valley that looks green and
prosperous likes a valley of heaven. The entire sharp turns in Kelok Ampek-Ampek joint
continuously without interval as long as about 10 kilometers long. With the width of the
road about 3 – 3.5 meters without safety barriers in the right and left sides of the deep
ravine, the road that has been build by the Dutch colonial become the road that
connected Maninjau – Punjak Lawang – Bukittinggi.

In the top of Lawang, it is said that there was a historic meeting happened
between Prince Diponegoro and Prince Alibasyah Sentot Prawirodirjo to continue the
battle together, opposing Dutch colonial government. Some previous years, Lawang top
and Maninjau Lake become a location of paragliding competition that followed by tens
of national and foreign athletes from Japan, Australia, Canada, India, Switzerland,
Philippine and USA.
In the 50-Kota sub-province, we can also see beautiful tourism object such as
Harau valley, Tanah Datar with its Pagaruyung Palace, and Agam with its Maninjau Lake.
Harau valley is famous for its 150 meters waterfall, and its calcium hills. In this area, we
can hear the sound of wild animals such as tiger, tapir, gibbon, and others.
Meanwhile, on the other side of West Sumatra we can found a group of islands
which are more popular in foreign country compared to West Sumatra or even in
Indonesia, named Mentawai archipelago. The popularity of Mentawai archipelago in
foreign countries can even match Bali. The area is so natural, encircled by mangrove
forest and it has tens of very beautiful island, they have crystal clear water and also
white sand. Beside known for its beauty, Mentawai beaches also known as the most
challenging place to water sport or surfing lovers because of the waves of Indian Ocean
that can give a challenging and best wave to surf. Undoubtedly, Mentawai beaches are so
popular among surfers around the world. There are 23 surfing points with an
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international standard in this area. Among them are Nyangnyang, Karang Bajat, Kaoniki,
and Pananggelat Mainuk in the district of South Siberut, Katiet Bosua in the district of
Sipora and also south and west coasts in the district of North Pagai. Every year, it is
estimated about 2,000 tourists surf in this area with 758 kilometers coastline. Generally
the tourists are foreign tourists and each of them usually stays for 14 days.
According to Kompas, Mentawai is popular because recently it also has a National
park called Siberut with 1,905 square kilometers range and become the lungs of the
world. The forest has its own uniqueness that differ from other tropical forest as a
caused of isolated process for about 500,000 years resulted and endemic natures to its
ecosystem (including flora & fauna). There are some endemic animals / primates here,
such as Bokoi (macaque), Jojo (Mentawai monkey), Simakobu (Mentawai simpai/monkey),
and Bilou. We can also find at least 150 medicine plants in the Mentawai forests, and
most of them cannot be found in the forest anywhere in the world. Moreover, Mentawai
also known by its unique culture that is very different with the ‘land people’ (=call name
from Mentawai people for people who live in West Sumatra) culture. Mentawai tattoo is
one of the oldest tattoos in the world with specific and unique tattoo varieties.
Besides all magnificent tourism objects above, West Sumatra still keep numbers
of other tourism objects which are also interesting such as Pandai Sikek and Silungkang
which also known by its songket (=traditional cloth like sarong) and various traditional
crafts, Anai valley with its tropical forest view and a 40 meters amazing waterfall,
Ngalau Indah and Rimba Panti. In Tanah Datar sub province, the oldest cultural town of
Minangkabau, we can find lots of historical and cultural places of Minangkabau such as
Pagaruyung Palace, which was the center of Minangkabau kingdom in the 14th century,
Batu Basurek, Batu Batikam, Satampang Baniah rice field, Panjang graveyard, Saruang hall,
and others. Tanah Datar also has a beautiful natural view with green rice field with
gradual contour.
There are various tourism attractions offered that haven’t been improved
optimally. Among them are diving around Mentawai archipelago, fishing, hiking or even
just sight seeing.

From the cultural side, attractions which have potency to be offered is Tabuik
Festival in Pariaman. Tabuik festival is a ritual festival in Pariaman town which become a
national tourism agenda held in every 1-10 Muharam. Tabuik Festival -- express ‘Burak’ -
the name of an animal with a hefty horse body, has wings, and it has a human head – with
2 dead cases with banners like crown umbrella, decorated colorfully, height 12-15 meters
-- represent the Karbala war that killed Hasan and Hosen, Prophet Muhammad grandsons.
When this festival is held, main streets in Pariaman and Gondoriah coast will be filled
with thousands of local people and domestic or even foreign tourists. In this festival, 2
tabuik named Tabuik Pasa and Tabuik Subarang will be swayed accompanied by tambur
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music and tasa drum. In the afternoon, both Tabuik will be moved to beautiful Gondoriah
coast and before the sunsets, both tabuik will be thrown to the sea. This festival also
enlivened by other Minangkabau traditional attraction.

Other unique and interesting traditional attraction is ‘Randai’, a kind of
Minangkabau people theatrical attraction that full of music, dance which based on
‘pencak silat’, and petitih petatah of Minangkabau people. The strength of Randai lays in
music and very dynamic movements. If it were nicely packaged, according to the
President of Asia – Pacific International Traditional Music Community, Prof. Dr.
Mohammad Anis as cited by Media Indonesia, Randai can be compared with Kabuki from
Japan or a success German Tanz theatre that can reach high popularity in foreign
countries. Other traditional attraction which drawing many tourist enthusiasm is ‘Baralek
Gadang’, that is a Minangkabau wedding procession with traditional clothes and
decoration with attractive colors.
The tourism attraction that use natural beauty as a magnetic appeal and still
interesting to be developed are camping ground, mangrove forest tour (eco tourism),
aquatic garden, surfing, paragliding, and rafting.

Visit Minangkabau Year 2006
Remarkable potencies and adequate transportation facilities have not enough yet
to support West Sumatra as a tourism object area. There are some other important
elements which are needed such as infrastructure and adequate tourism facility and also
intensive promotion to attract tourists to visit the place that has wisdom to nature
describe by its philosophy “alam takambang manjadi guru” (the spread of nature become
a teacher). That is why, even West Sumatra has remarkable tourism potency, they have
not been supported yet by adequate tourism facility and promotion so that the amount
of tourists visiting this area still far from target. In Jan – Dec 2005 for example, the
foreign tourists visit via Minangkabau airport noted only 17,708 people compared with
those who come via Ngurah Rai airport Bali that reached 1.455 million people, and Batam
that reached 1 million people.

As a consequence, since 2006, in line with local government ambition to make
West Sumatra as a main tourism target area, numbers of tourism activities being noted
in agenda and will be held with the tittle of ” Visit Minangkabau Year 2006”. The tourism
events that will be held during the year of 2006 are Tabuik Pariaman Festival, paragliding
tour in Lawang top, International walk in Padang and Bukittinggi, international surfing
tournament in Siberut, Randai Festical in Payakumbuh, Pedati Festival in Bukittinggi,
Baralek Gadang Festival in Solok and some others tourism attractions.
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International walk theme ‘International Peace Walk’ will be followed by about 300
– 400 tourists and athletes from about 22 countries and about 500 domestic tourists.
Similar event also will be held in August 2006 intended for student from another
countries and also domestic, and in January 2007 there’s ‘Women Walk’ which will be
followed by women of many countries including Indonesia. These international walk
events will take a route in Padang, pass the old Padang area – Siti Nurbaya bridge –
Padang mountain – Air Manis, and then Lawang top – Matur – Maninjau Lake sides and
Bukittinggi – Panorama Lobang Jepang – Ngarai Sianok – Gadang town.

West Sumatra Tourism Calendar in Visit Minangkabau Year 2006.
Tourism Attraction
Schedule
Location
Tabuik Pariaman Festival
31 Jan – 13 Feb 2006
Padang Pariaman
Bulan Basyafa Tradition
March 2006
Ulakan, Padang Pariaman
Paragliding Tour
May 2006
Lawang Top, Agam
International Peace Walk
23-26 March 2006
Padang - Bukittinggi
Paragliding and Swim from Island to Island
8-9 July 2006
Carocok Beach, West Cost
Pagaruyuang Festival
July 2006
Batusangkar
International Surfing Tournament
August 2006
Siberut, Mentawai
Dragon Boat Race
7 August 2006
Padang
Randai Festival
August & December 2006
Payakumbuh
Pedati Festival
October 2006
Bukittinggi
Lake Kembar Festival
November 2006
Diatas Lake, Solok
Baralek Gadang Festival December
2006
Solok
Rafting Race
December 2006
Batang Kuantan, Sawahlunto
Multi Cultural Festival
1-3 December 2006
Sawahlunto
Pacu Jawi
April, July & November Payakumbuh
2006
PDRI Situjuh War Memorial
15 January 2006
50-Kota Sub Province
Women Peace Walk
Jan – 2007
Padang - Bukittinggi
Source: Various national print media, December 2005.

Investment Opportunity
With such a big potency, of course there are big investment opportunities
available in the West Sumatra tourism industry. Most of the tourism areas have not yet
been provided with adequate tourism facilities and managed professionally. Dibawah
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Lake for example, absolutely has not been touched by tourism facility such as restaurant,
hotel, walking track, play ground, souvenir shop, and other facilities. The same happened
in other tourism areas. Whereas other tourism areas which already have tourism facilities
such as Diatas Lake, Maninjau Lake, Singkarak Lake, Batu Sangkar and others, the facilities
still far from sufficient. That is why, beside the amount of the visitors that come to
Ranah Minang can be categorized as relatively few, the time of stay also relatively short.

There are some investment opportunities which still wide open and waiting to be
entered in the West Sumatra tourism industry. First, hotel and restaurant; until now,
there are only a few star and non-star hotel in West Sumatra. There are 3 unit 4-stars
hotels, 4 units 3-stars hotels, 11 units 2-stars hotels and 5 units 1-star hotels. Star-hotels
are concentrated in Bukittinggi and Padang. Meanwhile they are so limited in other areas.
Because of that, tourists are more concentrated in Bukittingggi area. The representatives
and classy restaurants also limited, however the improvement of hotel and restaurant
quality and quantity have to be in line with the improvement of various facilities around
the tourism objects. In a last few time, in line with its ambition to develop tourism in
West Sumatra, local government has tried to build various facilities in the tourism areas
such as Gumanti valley that is a location of Diatas Lake. However, because of limited
budget, the facility that has already built is still far from sufficient, even tough the area
that has been prepared reached 40 hectares. Meanwhile, the people around the location
have initiate to rent their houses to visiting tourists like what happen in Diatas Lake and
Maninjau Lake but of course with limited facilities.
Second, resort development. With topography which consist of mountains, sea
and valley, some tourism location is suite to be developed for resorts, such as Diatas
Lake, Dibawah Lake, Maninjau Lake, Singkarak Lake, and other beautiful little islands in
Padang, Pariaman and also in Mentawai archipelago.
Third, car rental service. In general, roadways in West Sumatra have been already
built good enough. However, they have not been supported by good transportation
facilities both in quality and quantity. Some transport facilities available such as taxi or
car rental have not been managed professionally, so that the quality of the service and
the car are far from sufficient. Because of that, to support West Sumatra tourism
development, car rental or professional taxi is still needed.
Fourth, craft center. West Sumatra is including rich with its various traditional
craft. Sadly, this craft has not packed as supportive tourism object even some of this
product already marketed to foreign countries. Among them are embroidery and
stitching which are small industries of the people in Gadang Town, Bukittinggi.
Bukittinggi embroidery and stitching are famous not only in Indonesia but also in the
foreign countries such as Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore and countries in European and
Middle East. Other craft is songket which is a woven cloth with gold yarn from Pandai
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