Indonesian government is keen to spread some of the love to other locations around the country

Jun 2, 2017

CREDIT: Lonely Planet June 2017

While it has long been known that Bali is one of the most beautiful and popular tropical paradises in the world, the Indonesian government is keen to spread some of the love to other locations around the country. It has instructed travel agents and aviation companies to begin promoting ten new tourist destinations to provide travellers with alternative places to visit.

Young woman in a traditional Balinese dancing costume. Image: Kertu/Shutterstock
Young woman in a traditional Balinese dancing costume.
Image: Kertu/Shutterstock

The ten tourist destinations dubbed the “new Balis” include Lake Tola in North Sumatra, Tanjung Kelayang in Bangka Belitung, Tanjung Lesung in Banten, Thousand Islands regency in Jakarta, Borobudur in Central Java, areas of Bromo, Tengger and Semeru in East Java, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara, Wakatobe in Southesat Sulawesi and Norotai in North Maluku.

Lake Toba is one of ten destinations the Indonesian government wants to promote. Image: Yudha Lesmana/Lonely Planet
Lake Toba is one of ten destinations dubbed the ‘new Balis’ the Indonesian government wants to promote. Image: Yudha Lesmana/Lonely Planet

To encourage travellers to visit these alternative destinations, airlines and travel agents have been instructed to offer an increased number of tour packages to the prioritised locations. The Jakarta Post has reported that the head of the Tourism Ministry, Hiramsyah Sambudi Thaib, says that these areas are being developed as destinations by the government, and it will improve the status of many airports to make them international hubs and easier to access. The airports chosen to be improved include Adi Sumarmo Airport in Surakarta, Central Java, Kualanamu Airport in Medan and Lombok International Airport in West Nusa Tenggara.

West Nusa Tenggara is one of ten destinations the Indonesian government wants to promote. Image: Manuel Sulzer/Getty Images
West Nusa Tenggara is one of ten destinations the Indonesian government wants to promote. Image: Manuel Sulzer/Getty Images

If the Indonesian government is even half as successful at developing its new destinations as it has been with Bali, it looks like there will be a whole new set of places to add to our bucket lists.

Bali