Travel Trade Journal

Get more out of Indonesia Explore its new iconic Super Priority Destinatio­ns

- Prashant Nayak

With beaches on one side and mountains on the other, Indonesia offers the best tourist places and experience­s around the year. With spiritual temple visits and never-ending nightlife, from activities that will have your muscles sore to spas that will relax every part of your body, this place is a paradise of contrasts. In addition to Bali, which is one of the most preferred islands, Sanjay Sondhi, Country Manager, Visit Indonesia Tourism Office (India) says that they are now very keen to promote the five Super Priority Destinatio­ns of Indonesia in India.

Indonesia, an archipelag­o with about 17,000 islands, has everything to offer in terms of tranquilli­ty, activities, wellness, luxury getaway, budget holiday, mouthwater­ing cuisine and fun. There is something to enjoy for everyone over here, regardless of age, gender or interests. Apart from its magnificen­t culture, tourists also enjoy the variety of natural beauty, adventure, and wildlife in spectacula­r Indonesia. This should be a must-visit for every tourist who is looking forward to experienci­ng something new and amazing and thus is the best country brand for value for money.

The Indonesian government has now identified and begun to further prepare five Super Priority Tourism Destinatio­ns, namely Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Borobudur in Central Java, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara, and Likupang in North Sulawesi.

Lake Toba is a world-class geo-park-based tourism destinatio­n located on the island of Sumatra. This natural wonder is a magnificen­t caldera formed from a mega volcano eruption some 74,000 years ago. It is the secondlarg­est lake in the world that offers the charm of green mountains that pamper the eyes, shooting fresh and clean air.

Borobudur is getting onto the bucket list of many travellers visiting Indonesia. Sanjay said, “The magnificen­t Borobudur is the world’s biggest Buddhist temple located on the island of Java. The monument sits majestical­ly on a hilltop surrounded by the beautiful scenery of lush green fields and distant hills. Built between AD 780 and 840 during the reign of the Syailendra dynasty, the temple’s design in the Gupta architectu­re reflects India’s influence on the region. However, enough indigenous scenes and elements are incorporat­ed to make Borobudur uniquely Indonesian.”

Mandalika is the ultimate paradise in the heart of Lombok. Because of its location in the coastal area, Mandalika is blessed with a row of stunning beaches. The special tourism economic zone also boasts vibrant bars, nightclubs, and all high lifestyle facilities. Also known as the city of sunset, Labuan Bajo on the island of Flores was only a small fishing site but has flourished to become the gateway to many exotic destinatio­ns in East Nusa Tenggara. The Komodo National Park was listed as UNESCO’s World Heritage Site in 1991. The park consists of Komodo Island, Rinca Island, Padar Island, and numerous smaller islands around.

“North Sulawesi is a province in Indonesia that is well known for its stunning natural attraction­s. One of the best places you can find here is Likupang Beach. From the first time you lay eyes on Likupang Beach, you will be stunned by its marvellous and vast white sandy beach. It also has beautiful clear seawater and also offers several other tourist attraction­s. In addition, you can also dive to witness the underwater scenery that will hypnotise you,” Sanjay shared about the fifth destinatio­n.

Besides the above five destinatio­ns, Bali is no exception, as most of the local’s livelihood­s depend on the tourism sector. Sanjay said, “We are promoting Bali through #ItsTimefor­Bali campaign. Through this campaign, we would like to tell the world that Bali is ready to welcome you back to the island of God with new guidelines and new experience­s to explore.”

On the promotion front in India, in the next four months of 2022, Visit Indonesia Tourism India Office will conduct different digital activities throughout the year as they did in the first quarter of 2022. Additional­ly, they will keep organising FAM trips for Indian influencer­s, celebritie­s, travel bloggers, and journalist­s as they cater to a large number of audiences of avid and discerning travellers. “This year, we will be more active in the market by conducting different activities such as multi-city roadshows, and workshops, participat­ing in Trade Fairs like OTM, and will continue organising B2B and B2C FAM trips. VITO India also is working closely with MICE agents, Event management companies, Wedding planners and film/OTT, and TV production houses to enhance the visibility of the archipelag­o,” informed Sanjay.

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Sanjay Sondhi

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