Jakarta. Tourism Minister Arief Yahya inaugurated the Baobab Safari Resort in the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park in East Java on Thursday (03/08).

The park is located in the districts of Malang, Probolinggo, Lumajang and Pasuruan.

During the ceremony, Arief also challenged the province to step up efforts to compete with the country's nine other prioritized tourism destinations.

"Which one will breach a million foreign tourists in 2019? I am challenging East Java to compete! Usually, East Java is competitive and may emerge as the winner," Arief said in a statement on Friday.

The minister also reminded regional administration officials to work faster by establishing a benchmark, such as Japan and Vietnam.

The resort is the first in Indonesia that incorporates the concept of living spaces surrounded by wild animals, as it is integrated with Taman Safari Indonesia II Prigen.

"It would be fun and sensational. The Baobab Safari Resort may take part in strengthening the development of attractions in the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru area," Arief said.

Arief said his ministry has praised the management of Taman Safari Indonesia for opening the resort and convention center.

The Baobab Safari Resort will improve amenities in the 350-hectare area.

"It is even one of the largest in Asia, in the safari park category," Arief said.

The park also has a 2,000-square-meter aquatic environment, known as Aquatic Land, which accommodates various aquatic animals, including penguins, linsangs and seals.

Taman Safari Indonesia currently manages four safari parks. They are in TSI Cisarua Bogor in West Java, TSI Prigen Pasuruan in East Java, Batang Dolphin Center in Central Java, and TSI Bali.

TSI Prigen Pasuruan welcomed 2,418 foreign and 431,625 domestic visitors last year.

The Baobab Safari Resort has 148 standard rooms, 120 deluxe rooms, 24 premium rooms and four junior suite rooms, as well as a ballroom for meetings, conferences and exhibitions.