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Likupang awaits its time in the tourism sun
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo came up with the idea of promoting “new Balis” in Indonesia in order to boost tourism's contribution to the national economy.
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Faraway island: Tourists enjoy a sunny day on Lihaga Island in West Likupang, North Minahasa, North Sulawesi. It takes 60 minutes to drive from Manado, the North Sulawesi provincial capital, to Likupang, where tourists must then spend 15 minutes crossing the sea to reach the island. (JP/Riza Roidila Mufti)
W
hen the government named Likupang in North Sulawesi as one of Indonesia’s top-five new tourist destinations, many eyebrows were raised with people asking, “Where?”
Likupang was listed along with four more popular destinations in the government’s so-called “five super-priority tourist destinations” in Indonesia, namely Borobudur in Central Java, Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara and Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo came up with the idea of promoting “new Balis” in Indonesia in order to boost tourism's contribution to the national economy, with an original target of attracting 20 million foreign tourists by 2019. Foreign tourist numbers amounted to around 13.6 million up to October this year.
For that reason, the Tourism Ministry has been investing its human and financial resources in promoting the new Balis, especially the five super-priority destinations. However, for most of the journalists and travel bloggers invited by the Tourism Ministry on a trip to find out more about Likupang, which The Jakarta Post joined in November, it was a first-time visit.
Likupang is located in the northernmost tip of Sulawesi, a two-hour drive from Manado, the provincial capital of North Sulawesi. Surrounded by the sea and several smaller islands, Likupang is notable for its beach and marine tourism.
Ecotourism potential
