Some 1,600 kilometers (990 miles) away in Bali \u2014 not that there\u2019s any direct flight \u2014 traffic snarls around temple corners, the air is thick with noise pollution from motorbikes, plastic trash is matted into gutters and the surge of visitors has, in many places, eclipsed the island\u2019s deeper spiritual essence.<\/p>\n
And yet, that\u2019s where the government is placing most of its tourism bets. Officials want Bali, about 1.5 times the size of Rhode Island, to be a holiday escape and everything else besides. There are plans to establish Bali as a family office hub, an export center for seaweed and President Prabowo Subianto in late June inaugurated the Sanur Special Economic Zone to develop medical tourism. As Indonesia\u2019s most internationally recognized destination, banking on Bali was a deliberate strategy to help the Southeast Asian nation\u2019s vital tourism sector recover in the aftermath of the pandemic. But that approach isn\u2019t paying off, with the province\u2019s economic growth slowing as visitors\u2019 spending declines.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, tourism operators in other parts of the country are crying out for investment.<\/p>\n Irfan Muddin, who has run Ora Sunrise View Resort since 2018, has been lobbying local authorities for years to improve connectivity to boost tourism in Maluku province. \u201cAn airport could be built on Seram Island that would enable direct domestic and international flights,\u201d he said, adding that regional airfares should also come down.<\/p>\n Also read |<\/strong>\u00a0Spain unveils digital nomad visa for \u20b98,000: Here\u2019s how Indian passport holders can apply<\/a><\/p>\n Tourism in Indonesia \u2014 an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands \u2014 as a whole still hasn\u2019t fully returned to pre-Covid levels, a milestone that Vietnam and Thailand are close to achieving. Bali itself however is suffering from overtourism, with visitor numbers in 2024 already exceeding those in 2019.<\/p>\n \u201cIs Indonesia squandering its tourism potential? In many ways, yes, but not because it lacks natural beauty,\u201d Samer El Hajjar, a senior lecturer in marketing at Singapore\u2019s NUS Business School, said. \u201cIt\u2019s more about execution. There\u2019s a gap between potential and policy, between what Indonesia could offer and what it currently does.\u201d<\/p>\n A major obstacle in boosting tourism spots besides Bali is the lack of coordination among ministries and local government to ramp up infrastructure and improve connectivity. Indonesia\u2019s government has previously tried to prioritize creating 10 \u201cnew Balis\u201d in other areas, but these projects have quietly fallen by the wayside.<\/p>\n Indonesian Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said in a statement that the government is still pushing ahead with the \u201cnew Balis\u201d strategy and is improving connectivity by upgrading infrastructure. The country is working with global tour agents and operators to promote key destinations, she said. Indonesia is also focused on diversifying its economy so it doesn\u2019t become dependent on tourism, she said.<\/p>\n Also read |<\/strong>\u00a0Maldives to grant 90-day visa-free entry to Sri Lankan tourists<\/a><\/p>\n After a slump during the height of Covid, the reopening of borders saw visitors flock to Bali, which garnered pop-culture status after being featured in the 2010 film Eat, Pray, Love. In 2024, nearly half of Indonesia\u2019s roughly 13.9 million foreign visitors went to the province. \nFrom a quiet, agrarian, Hindu oasis, Bali has transformed into a nightlife hotspot that offers both ultimate luxury \u2014 whole villas that run close to $3,000 a night \u2014 to budget basics, with guest houses that go for as little as $20.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also become a mecca for wellness enthusiasts and is attempting to become a medical hub that offers cosmetic procedures to neonatal care. The government estimates that the island\u2019s two economic zones, one focused specifically around medical tourism, could bring in over $33 billion by 2052.<\/p>\n But the tourism boom isn\u2019t translating into sustained gains.<\/p>\n Bali\u2019s economic growth declined to 5.5% last year from 5.7% in 2023, in part due to a decline in average spending of international tourists. Typically deep-pocketed Chinese have been particularly missed, with the number of visitors from the country just a third of 2019\u2019s level.\u00a0In essence, Bali is a victim of its own success.<\/p>\n Crowds of tourists throng streets and videos of snarling traffic in party hot spots such as Canggu have gone viral, prompting comparisons to Indonesia\u2019s capital Jakarta, notorious for its jammed roads. Foreign investors building villas are eating into the tranquility of the terraced paddy fields that helped make Bali famous in the first place.<\/p>\n Life has changed substantially for locals too. Construction work threatens the delicate structures of the island\u2019s sacred Hindu temples and water is getting harder to come by \u2014 over 65% of Bali\u2019s fresh water is channeled to resorts and plunge pools, leading to over-extraction as villages turn to using groundwater.<\/p>\n Over at Ora Beach in Maluku province, a stream of what looks like dark black smoke arises from the mountains at 6:20 p.m. on the dot, everyday. It\u2019s actually thousands of bats flying out of a nearby cave to hunt for their dinner. As visitors go island hopping, they can catch a view of dolphins and turtles coming up from the deep for air.<\/p>\n But what Bali has that Seram Island lacks is infrastructure and connectivity.<\/p>\n The island doesn\u2019t have an airport, for instance. One way to get to Ora Beach is to fly three and a half hours east from Jakarta to Ambon, take a two hour ferry to Seram Island and then another one hour car ride \u2014 a close to seven hour trip. Even then, there are only two ferry services a day, which carry more people than the maximum allowed limit. Sinkings in Indonesia are commonplace.<\/p>\n
Also read |<\/strong>\u00a019,000 km, 21 days and 13 countries: 8 facts to know about the world’s longest train journey<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.cnbctv18.com\/uploads\/2025\/04\/komodo-island-2025-04-a8227af81e3d713d59388dcb90f51e4c.jpg?im=Resize,width=640,height=360,aspect=fit,type=normal\")
<\/p>\n Komodo Island is Home to around 2,000 residents and the iconic Komodo dragon \u2014 the world\u2019s largest lizard \u2014 Komodo Island is a unique blend of danger and beauty. This 390 square kilometer island is part of Indonesia\u2019s string of volcanic isles.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n
![\"Bali,](\"https:\/\/images.cnbctv18.com\/uploads\/2024\/08\/bali-indonesia-2024-08-054d2775ea3fff31d11abdb7fb04cc6e.jpg?im=Resize,width=640,height=360,aspect=fit,type=normal\")
<\/p>\n Indonesian paradise Bali is known for its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and lush landscapes. Visitors can discover the beautiful beaches of Seminyak, Nusa Dua, and Kuta, visit the famous Uluwatu Temple, watch traditional dance performances, and indulge in delicious seafood. (Image: Reuters)<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/p>\n Indonesian Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said in a statement that the government is still pushing ahead with the \u201cnew Balis\u201d strategy and is improving connectivity by upgrading infrastructure. The country is working with global tour agents and operators to promote key destinations, she said. Indonesia is also focused on diversifying its economy so it doesn\u2019t become dependent on tourism, she said.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n
![\"Located](\"https:\/\/images.cnbctv18.com\/uploads\/2020\/02\/1024px-Kuta_Lombok_Mawun_Beach.jpg?im=Resize,width=640,height=360,aspect=fit,type=normal\")
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