MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The North Sumatra Provincial Government is using the hosting of the 32nd Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Forum as a major opportunity to strengthen tourism promotion and showcase the province's diverse tourism potential to delegates from various countries.
The forum, scheduled to take place in Medan from September 7 to 10, 2026, serves not only as a platform for discussions on regional economic cooperation. The government is also using the event as an entry point to expand cross-border tourism networks, particularly through the development of thematic travel packages and the strengthening of geopark networks.
The participation of delegates from Malaysia and Thailand gives North Sumatra an opportunity to showcase major destinations and their distinctive natural, cultural and creative-economy attractions. The government hopes the promotion will help increase the number of foreign visitors while also encouraging them to extend their stays in North Sumatra.
Tourism as a Key Focus of
IMT-GT Cooperation
Sonny A. Soekoer, Deputy Chair of the IMT-GT Forum and Deputy for Regional Economic Cooperation at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, said tourism is one of the key priorities of the IMT-GT working group.
According to Sonny, cooperation in the sector is not limited to marketing individual destinations in the three countries. Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand continue to promote joint programs that connect the diverse tourism potential across the
IMT-GT region.
"We are supporting delegates, particularly those from Malaysia and Thailand, to explore tourism areas and the creative economy exhibition on the final day of the event series. We hope the delegates will extend their stay to enjoy North Sumatra's tourism destinations," Sonny said during a press briefing held on Friday, September 4, 2026, by the North Sumatra Provincial Office of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo) at the Dekranasda North Sumatra lobby at the Governor's Office, Jalan Pangeran Diponegoro No. 30, Medan.
Sonny explained that the cooperation includes joint promotions for cross-border thematic travel packages. The program provides the three countries with an opportunity to develop travel packages linking several destinations based on specific themes.
In addition to joint marketing, IMT-GT also promotes improvements in the performance and quality of tourism services. This step is considered essential to enhance visitors' travel experiences while strengthening the competitiveness of destinations across Southeast Asia.
The government views the international forum as a strategic opportunity to introduce North Sumatra's tourism wealth directly to delegates. Through this approach, participants will not only take part in the official discussions but will also gain firsthand exposure to the region's tourism destinations and emerging creative-economy products.
TOURISM SECTOR A KEY FOCUS OF IMT-GT COOPERATION: Sonny A. Soekoer, Deputy for Regional Economic Cooperation at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, explains that the tourism sector is one of the key areas of cooperation under the IMT-GT Forum. (PHOTO: YT Hariono)
Samosir and Langkawi Strengthen Geopark Network
Muhammad Armand Effendy Pohan, a senior planner at the North Sumatra Regional Planning, Research and Innovation Agency (Bapperida), said tourism cooperation under the IMT-GT framework is being carried out on an ongoing basis.
One form of this cooperation focuses on strengthening the potential and certification of a geopark network connecting Samosir in the
Lake Toba region with Langkawi in Malaysia.
The cooperation is strategically important because both regions possess distinctive geological features and landscapes that can be incorporated into the development of a geotourism concept. Strengthening the network also creates opportunities for joint marketing initiatives and improved access for tourists to destinations offering unique natural and cultural attractions.
North Sumatra's
Lake Toba is one of Indonesia's priority destinations for tourism development. Samosir Island, which forms an important part of the
Lake Toba region, provides the provincial government with an opportunity to further promote nature, cultural, historical and geological tourism.
The connection with Langkawi also opens new prospects for developing a cross-border destination network. The cooperation allows both regions to showcase their respective tourism potential and develop partnership models that can benefit local communities as well as tourism industry players.
Strengthening the geopark network is also in line with efforts to develop tourism that is not solely focused on high visitor numbers. The government can promote a tourism model that places sustainability, education, environmental protection and the empowerment of local communities at its core.
STRENGTHENING GEOPARK NETWORK COOPERATION: Muhammad Armand Effendy Pohan, a senior planner at Bapperida North Sumatra, explains efforts to strengthen cooperation on the geopark network between Samosir in the Lake Toba region and Langkawi in Malaysia. (PHOTO: YT Hariono)
International Delegates to Explore North Sumatra's Potential
The series of ministerial-level meetings held as part of the 32nd IMT-GT Forum will bring together numerous decision-makers and stakeholders from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. The three countries' economic ministers are expected to participate alongside senior government officials, known as Senior Officials.
In addition, the chairpersons of business associations represented in the Joint Business Council (JBC), along with hundreds of entrepreneurs from the subregional area, will participate in various events.
The presence of these decision-makers and business representatives provides North Sumatra with an opportunity to promote its tourism industry more widely at the international level while exploring new cooperation opportunities with companies from IMT-GT member countries.
The North Sumatra Provincial Government can use the meeting to showcase major tourism destinations, creative-economy products and various economic opportunities across the region. Direct presentations to delegates could also serve as an initial step toward establishing business relationships and attracting investment in the tourism sector.
The exploration of tourism areas and the creative-economy exhibition on the final day of the forum form an important part of this strategy. Delegates from Malaysia and Thailand will have the opportunity to gain firsthand insight into North Sumatra's potential.
The government hopes these experiences will encourage delegates to extend their stay in North Sumatra beyond the forum's official agenda. Longer tourist stays are expected to generate broader economic benefits for businesses, tourism workers, micro, small and medium enterprises, as well as communities surrounding tourism destinations.
The 32nd IMT-GT Forum therefore not only strengthens economic cooperation among the three countries but also creates new opportunities for North Sumatra to expand its position as a tourism destination at the regional level. Through joint promotion, the development of thematic travel packages, improved service quality and the strengthening of the geopark network, North Sumatra has greater opportunities to establish sustainable and competitive tourism cooperation. (IDNC)
REPORTER:
Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR:
Fik Sagala