Tourism

Already known worldwide for the hugely popular island destination of Bali, Indonesia has been trying to market its full range of opportunities. At the same time, the country is hoping to build its profile as a business travel venue, a policy helped along by ongoing economic growth. 2011 tourist arrivals were up 7.5% year-on-year for the January-July period, well on their way to meeting the government’s target of 7.7m. The government is keen to promote the meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions sector, with conference facilities being developed in Lombok and Jogjakarta. Finally, it’s looking to draw visitors beyond conventional destinations, highlighting islands like Lombok, which has direct ferry connections to Bali. This section features an interview with I Made Mangku Pastika, Governor of Bali.