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The Lego house of the 10 New Balis plan
Admittedly, the identity of Bali as a destination is very strong, even stronger than Indonesia itself as a nation.
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Aerial view of Bajra Sandhi Monument, also known as monument to Balinese people’s struggle in Denpasar. (Shutterstock/File)
W
hen a child plays Lego, with hundreds of shapes and sections scattered on the floor, he must choose the pieces well to build a structure that can be enjoyed by others. The government’s “10 New Balis” tourism project is similar to this challenging game.
Tourism Minister Arief Yahya says tourism in the newly designated destinations outside Bali from January to March 2017 showed substantial growth of US$529.4 million, an increase of 95 percent over the same period in the previous year. This bodes well for tourist mobility throughout Indonesia, beyond Bali.
However, significant challenges remain in luring tourists beyond Bali, as travelers indicate.
“I only have two weeks to travel. So, if the peak of Indonesian tourism is in Bali, why would I go somewhere else?” said Andrew, a middle-class Australian worker from Darwin, who traveled to Bali along with his family.
The tourist, among several of my respondents for research, said he liked to explore rural areas in Bali and felt that others like him were unwilling to travel beyond Bali.
Admittedly, the identity of Bali as a destination is very strong, even stronger than Indonesia itself as a nation. This is a result of cultural, natural and tourism preparedness such as the facilities and the Balinese tourist-friendly mentality, since the “cultural renaissance” that converted Bali into a top destination in previous decades.
Thus, travelers with limited precious holiday time, like the Australian visitors, pose a challenge to attracting travelers to the “10 New Bali” destinations.
