Tourism

Since the 1930s, the unique cultural and picturesque landscape of Indonesia’s island of Bali has lured millions of visitors. But even as Bali has boomed, the delights from the rest of Indonesia’s archipelago of more than 17,000 Islands have often been overlooked. The new government of President Joko Widodo has vowed to change that. With a goal of attracting 20m visitors by 2020, it is urging tourists to travel beyond Bali and experience the country’s myriad cultures and cuisines, as well as the stunning natural beauty of its more than 54,000 km of beach and coast. While tourism is currently the fourth-largest source of foreign exchange after oil and gas, coal, and palm oil, some industry leaders predict that it could take the lead by 2018 if the government’s initiatives pay off.

This chapter contains an interview with Budi Tirtawisata, CEO, Panorama Group.