Jakarta. Economist Gunawan Benjamin said recently that the Kualanamu International Airport could provide a major impetus to North Sumatra’s economic growth.

With an airport available, more travelers are expected to visit the province, thus providing a major boon to hotels. Transportation as well as the local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are also expected to grow significantly. The same goes for the tourism industry as the airport makes it easier for people to visit the province.

"Not only that, promoting industrial and economic potential in North Sumatra has also become easier. The Kualanamu International Airport can also boost the region’s income,” Gunawan said on Monday, as reported by the state news agency Antara.

“There are so many economic benefits that an airport can bring to a region. But what is important is for all policymakers and stakeholders to take advantage of the Kualanamu Airport to spur North Sumatra’s economy,” Gunawan said.

However, data shows that North Sumatra's economic growth rarely tops 6 percent. The province once recorded a 6.01 percent growth in 2013. North Sumatra’s economy only grew 5.23 percent in 2014 -- the same year that then-President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono inaugurated the Kualanamu International Airport. According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), North Sumatra’s economy rose by 5.01 percent in 2023.

“So, North Sumatra is still growing at a slower pace compared to 2014. I think this slower growth is because of the global economic dynamics, … which hamper Kualanamu Airport’s economic potential,” Gunawan said, adding that the worsening energy commodity prices as another factor.