Dhoho Airport ready to improve East Java's economy
This article has been translated by PwC Indonesia as part of our Indonesia Infrastructure News Service. PwC Indonesia has not checked the accuracy of, and accepts no responsibility for the content.
Investor Daily - Bandara Dhoho siap angkat ekonomi Jatim
29 September 2023
By: Amrozi Amenan & Tri Murti
Surabaya - Dhoho Airport in Kediri in East Java will improve the economy of southern East Java, which includes Kediri, Tulung Agung, magetan, Ponorogo, Trenggalek, Pacitan, Blitar, Madiun, and their surroundings. The construction progress of the airport has reached 97.04%.
“The economic impact of Dhoho Airport is quite significant. The airport will be an alternate air access to southern East Java, which includes Tulung Agung, Megetan, Ponorogo, Trenggalek, Blitar, Madiun, and others. It will accelerate the mobility of people and goods to boost economic growth in those regions,” East Java Indonesia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Chairperson Adik Dwi Putranto said to Investor Daily on Thursday (28/9/2023).
Adik stated that Dhoho Airport would impact local workforce absorption. For example, around the airport, there will be new business locations such as boarding houses, hotels, and shops.
“The airport itself will probably absorb around one thousand workers. However, with industries growing in various regions, it will most likely absorb around 2 thousand or 3 thousand workers,” he stated.
According to Adik, Dhoho Airport has a large potential as its scope is very wide from Kediri and its surroundings that is called Selingkar Wilis to Madiun, Nganjuk Trenggalek, Pacitan, and several other regions. With an airport in Kediri, industries in the region will also grow more rapidly.
“Nganjuk and Ngawi already have industrial estates. It will accelerate industrialisation there. It will also create other industrial estates as an airport will accelerate the distribution of people and goods. It will shorten travel time to the area. Usually, people must go through Malang or Surabaya, but now they only need to go through Kediri,” Adik added.
On the other hand, Adik said that the tourism sector and the hospitality sector would also be boosted. The tourism potential there is already quite large, but it has not been optimised due to the infrastructure. Moreover, the airport construction will not take a long time.
Moreover, Kediri has a spiritual tourism destination for Catholics, which is Our Lady of Lourdes Cave that is often visited on Easter. The Catholic place of pilgrimage is located in the complex of Pohsarang Church.
“Besides seeing the statue of Mother Mary, Catholics can also see a diorama that illustrates a spiritual story. Not only for Catholics, Our Lady of Lourdes Cave is also used by people with various beliefs to meditate,” Adik explained.
Next, in Trenggalek, there is an excellent tourism potential. There are many plantations that have existed since the Dutch period, which include coffee and chocolate plantations that have a natural scenery background around Wilis Mountain.
There are also several beaches in Pacitan that can mesmerise tourists, such as Watu Karung Beach, Klayar Beach, and others. Pacitan is also known as a city that has a thousand caves. One of the most famous caves that is known for its beauty is Gong Cave.
“There are many more regions around Kediri with tourism potential that can be developed,” he stated.
Besides tourism, the manufacturing industry, the trading industry, and the mining industry will also be boosted. There are several regions there that are mining areas and have a cigarette industry. Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) there will also be boosted, including food and beverage MSMEs, handicraft MSMEs, batik MSMEs, and souvenir MSMEs.
“Its impact on the economic growth of East Java can be seen from the various economic sectors that can be driven by the construction of Dhoho Airport. So, I am optimistic about [the airport] boosting the economic growth of East Java by at least around 1-2%,” Adik said.
Meanwhile, PT Surya Dhoho Investama (SDHI) Director Maksin Arisandi said that the overall construction progress of Dhoho Airport has reached 97.04%. He is targeting the construction of all related items to be completed at the end of October 2023.
“In November 2023, we will be ready to verify the landing test, the take-off test, and other [tests]. So, we will test everything in November,” Arisandi said recently.
Arisandi appreciates the support of Kediri Regency Government that is ready to synchronise surrounding regions to support the airport’s operation.
Besides traffic signs towards the airport, he said that support from the government was also important, which could be in the form of road infrastructure and supporting transportation.
Kediri Regent Hanindhito Himawan Pramana revealed that Kediri Regency Government has prepared various aspects outside the airport, such as supervision on land acquisitions for the toll road.
“We will also continue to carry out site developments around the airport,” Hanindhito said.
He mentioned that his agency was coordinating with regional governments around Kediri Regency, such as Nganjuk, Tulungagung, and Kediri City, to prepare supporting facilities outside the airport. He is also coordinating with East Java Provincial Government. For example, he mentioned that he coordinated to install road signs towards the airport.
“Even though the airport is constructed in Kediri, the installation of the road signs involves surrounding regions, such as Nganjuk, Tulungagung, and Kediri City,” Hanindhito revealed.
He also admits that he is ready to coordinate with neighbouring regions to prepare supporting facilities.
“We are here to give what we can. We are ready to communicate with other region heads,” he said.
Hanindhito added that, regarding the airport’s preparation, Kediri Regency Government has also prepared to accelerate supporting infrastructure around the airport.
It is an important preparation. A supporting road access is important, so, before the airport operates, the road access is expected to be ready.
“Hence, the regency government is continuously communicating with the provincial government and other regional governments,” Hanindhito revealed.
