JAKARTA - Minister of Culture Fadli Zon said the Nusantara Explorer Train has a unique appeal. The tourist train is considered to be used for tourist trips, reunions, gatherings, to meetings while enjoying the travel route.
Fadli conveyed this when trying the Nusantara Explorer on the way from Semarang to Jakarta, Thursday, July 30.
According to Fadli, the initial response to the train was quite positive. He assessed that many people were potentially interested in renting the Nusantara Explorer car for various activities.
"It seems that from the conversations, the response from many people is that there will be many people who will be interested," said Fadli.
He said the concept of the train was different because it combined travel, gathering space, and tourist experiences in one car.
"Even maybe renting a car or renting for activities, events, reunions, gatherings, or while meeting," he said.
Fadli then compared the Nusantara Explorer to the Orient Express, a legendary luxury train known in the history of European travel. However, he emphasized that this train still carries the taste of Indonesia.
"It's very unique. Like the Orient Express, but this has a Nusantaranya touch," said Fadli.
The touch, according to Fadli, can be seen from the use of batik motifs and decorations inside the train.
"It must be, still the value of Indonesianness that is highlighted," he said.
Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said that the Nusantara Explorer was prepared at the direction of President Prabowo Subianto to develop train-based tourism.
According to Prasetyo, PT KAI actually already has a subsidiary that manages tourist trains. However, the President asked that the facility be strengthened with new carriages and combined with flagship tourist destinations.
"At the President's direction, ask for reinforcement, we will make a new car, which will later be combined with the flagship tourist destinations we have," said Prasetyo.
Prasetyo said that Nusantara Explorer has not been officially launched. The train is still being tested and will be evaluated before the schedule of its operation is determined.
When asked if the train could operate this year, Prasetyo replied, "If it can this year."
Prasetyo also appreciated the quality of the interior of the car compartment. He assessed that KAI is now able to make tourist train cars with international quality.
However, the development of tourist trains does not stop at the carriages. Prasetyo said the discussion had touched on destinations to be connected, including the possibility of reviving a train line to a tourist area.
One of them is the Semarang-Magelang route to support Borobudur as a flagship destination. The government is also paying attention to the Yogyakarta area and Prambanan Temple, which are being prepared for restoration.
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