Tourism

With some 17,500 islands featuring diverse landscapes that range from volcanoes to white sandy beaches, as well as major cities with international-standard conference and entertainment facilities and a highly hospitable population, Indonesia has much to offer its visitors. In recent years, the economy has experienced rapid growth leading to the emergence of a new middle class that is looking to travel, which has contributed to a dynamic and expanding domestic tourism sector. Figures from Statistics Indonesia indicate that in 2011 a total of 7.65m foreign visitors came into the country, spending an average of $1118 each per visit and staying an average of 7.84 days. Tourism development is a central plank of the government’s national development strategy. The challenge for sector professionals will be in creating a critical mass to help Indonesia realise its huge tourism potential. This chapter contains an interview with Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, Governor, Yogyakarta Special Region.