Rawa Pening attracts investor interest to become Central Java's premier water tourism destination

The Central Java Provincial Government has stated that Lake Rawa Pening is being eyed by investors for development as a premier water tourism destination. Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi in Semarang on Thursday expressed support for the water tourism development in the Rawa Pening area of Semarang Regency to strengthen the Borobudur-Kopeng-Rawa Pening tourism agglomeration. “Borobudur, Kopeng, Rawapening will become one agglomeration that we will develop. However, it must be coordinated with various parties, because Rawapening is also a conservation area,” he said. He made the statement while receiving an audience with the Semarang Regent, the Chairperson of the Salatiga City DPRD, and representatives of a prospective domestic investor, PT Pandawa Sapto Dewi Pesisir. The company is an investor from Cilacap interested in participating in developing a tourist destination in the Ambarawa area, Semarang Regency, which is rich in legend. Luthfi welcomed the investment interest for the development of the tourist destination, but cautioned that conservation functions must still be observed and cross-sector coordination carried out. Semarang Regent Ngesti Nugraha said the prospective investor plans to develop tourist destinations in the Rawa Pening area, ranging from floating restaurants, villas, fish cages, to water games. “The hope is that Rawa Pening will become one of the leading destinations in Central Java,” he said. Meanwhile, Director of PT Pandawa Sapto Dewi Pesisir Miskun said his company sees great potential in Rawa Pening to be developed as a water-based tourist destination. He said the Central Java Governor requested that the development process be realised as soon as possible. “He earlier conveyed that it should be expedited, not take too long,” he said. Head of the Central Java Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy Office Hanung Triyono said the development of Rawa Pening must be carried out carefully because the area also functions as a conservation area. According to him, his office will coordinate with the Pemali Juana River Basin Centre and the Ministry of Public Works to determine the zoning of areas that can be utilised as tourist destinations and those that must be maintained as conservation areas. In addition, Rawa Pening will also receive investment related to a water management system from Shiga, Japan, so that the aspects of tourism, conservation, and water management can proceed in tandem. “Hopefully this year we can see the site plan. Because Rawa Pening is under the authority of the Ministry of Public Works, but we can still get involved,” he said.