RESERVOIRS STILL TO BE TAPPED TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 4 (Antara) - Indonesians, like most other people in the world, love to go out for a picnic to unwind at tourism resorts or at other destinations such as lakes after a long and hectic week of working.          Lake Toba in North Sumatra is a famous natural tourism destination in the country, apart from the Saguling, Cirata and Jatiluhur reservoirs in West Java. Lakes and reservoirs, if cultivated optimally, have numerous economic benefits, including in the tourism sector.          Indonesia has over 800 reservoirs which can potentially be developed as tourist destinations for holidaymakers and picnic lovers.         Unfortunately, some reservoirs in the country are in a critical condition while others are also undergoing degradation due to heavy contamination on account of domestic refuse and silting due to soil erosion.          Therefore, Indonesia needs to rehabilitate its reservoirs or even develop them into tourism destinations. This will benefit the people economically. The regional government of Lebak District in Banten Province, for example, is now offering investors to develop its reservoirs as tourist destinations.          "We have at least three reservoirs that could be developed as tourism destinations, namely the Palayangan, Cicinta and the Cilemer reservoirs," Jumono, the head of Lebak's Dam and River Affairs Service, stated on Tuesday.