The businessman-turned-politician committed, during his live-broadcast inauguration ceremony in Jakarta on Dec. 23, to developing the nation’s five “super-priority” tourist destinations – sometimes called the “five new Balis” – at the behest of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

The five destinations are Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Borobudur in Central Java, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara and Likupang in North Sulawesi.

“I’ve been given a year for [the President] to see preparations for the five super priority destinations from a 360 degree angle – every single little thing,” said the former deputy governor of Jakarta and vice presidential candidate.

“The president is very detailed. The dances, the best-of-the-best, the costumes, the culture, the talent and services and so on so forth,” said Sandiaga, a Gerinda party politician.

The government hopes to use the destinations, which were unveiled last year, to grow Indonesian tourism, especially after worldwide pandemic travel restrictions and income uncertainty devastated the sector.

Indonesia drastically slashed its foreign tourist arrival target for this year from 18 million travelers to between 2.8 million and 4 million visitors, less than a fourth of the initial target.

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