Indonesia’s five super-priority tourism destinations were introduced by the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry at the Asean Tourism Forum 2020 in Brunei Darussalam last month.
The ministry said it expected the effort would spread the word and further information about the destinations, dubbed the new Balis, to more audiences in the world.
The government is developing the five super-priority destinations as a part of its efforts to make the tourism industry one of the new drivers of economic growth. The destinations are Toba Lake in North Sumatra, Borobudur in Central Java, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara and Likupang in North Sulawesi.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s travel and tourism industry is already growing twice as fast as global average, says World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
Travel and Tourism in Indonesia grew by 7.8 per cent in 2018 – double the global average of 3.9, and ahead of Indonesia’s wider economy, which grew by 5.1 per cent.
In 2018, travel and tourism contributed $62.6 billion and nearly 13 million jobs to the Indonesian economy. One in three of all tourism jobs in the ten countries that make up South East Asia, are located in Indonesia. This makes Indonesia the third largest travel and tourism economy in South East Asia after Thailand and the Philippines.
In total, international tourists spent nearly $15.5 billion in Indonesia last year, accounting for 6.8 per cent of total exports.THE APURVA KEMPINSKI BALI OPENS
THE Apurva Kempinski Bali has launched a collection of 43 beautifully appointed private villas, nestled in tropical gardens on the clifftops of Nusa Dua. Named after the mighty kingdoms that once ruled over Indonesia, the one-, two- and three-bedroom pool villas evoke the tropical characteristics of southern Bali, offering discerning visitors complete privacy, spacious indoor-outdoor living and a delectable flavour of Balinese life.
“We have made tremendous efforts to showcase Indonesian heritage in the eyes of the world by incorporating the best local craftsmanship, philosophy and materials into the interior design,” said Rudy Dodo, founder of Jakarta-based Trivium Design Group, which is responsible for interiors throughout the resort.