Indonesia named second best travel destination in Asia

Source: http://english.sina.com/life/2009/0313/225663.html

JAKARTA, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia was ranked second in GoAsia's The Best Travel Destination in Asia after Thailand while Malaysia was placed as the third best, the Jakarta Post reported quoting the Indonesia Foreign Ministry as saying on Friday.

Go Asia, a German tourism institution, invited travel agents from all over the world to participate in the voting process on Wednesday in Berlin. The body also gave awards for Asia's best tourism organizations or tourism boards, airlines and tour operators.

Go Asia initiative was started in 2003 to enhance marketing in German-speaking regions. Sapta Nirwandar, Indonesian Culture and Tourism Ministry's director general of marketing, said Friday that the award was a proof that tourism, which contributed 7.5 billion U.S. dollars to the country's income in 2008, was able to survive in the global economy slowdown.

"We have to keep working hard to turn this economic slowdown as a chance to boost our tourism," he said. Sapta added that the number of German tourists visiting Indonesia had increased by 22.6 percent in 2008 compared to the previous year. ***

What...? we defeated Malaysia as Asia best travel destination...?
This is a great news...

Yes I've met Germany traveller in Yogyakarta last year...
They're really into Indonesian culture like temples, traditional dances etc.
I remember meet two Germany traveller at Plaosan temple, and they asked me to pointed their way to Ratu Boko temple compounds....
I say "its already sunset and Ratu Boko probably already closed by the time you get there, why don't you go to Prambanan temple and watch Ramayana Ballet instead.." they listened to me and enjoy the Ramayana ballet.

edit

edit

Where there's a will, there's ALWAYS a way. Merdeka!!

we used to get 1st place.... almost always

With all the bad publications and retarded excuse for a tourism minsitry, we are still able to get this? Imagine what could we achieve when it's done the right way. Well done, my Nusantara!

I hope it would mark the beginning of new era for the Indonesian tourism sector. We can be proud of the achievement, but we must keep on improving ourselves. Retaining the current positiion is way much harder than obtaining.

Indonesia has a lot to offer to the world. But, this year, we also face lots of challenges in terms of tourism.

Setiap insan Indonesia adalah duta bangsa. So, let's do our best!

oh YAY! and according to an international institution (I dun remember the name tho) the best surfing place in the world is in Indonesia too, yanno!

I'm googling now and according to this siteIndonesia is on the second place as the world's best surf sports.

That hotel club travel blog must have vested interests to list Australia's Gold Coast as the world's top surf spot.
I have surfed the beach breaks on the Gold Coast, and while I enjoyed it, I would never list this hotel metropolis, ultra-crowded, over-hyped, small wave location as my No.1 surf destination.
Indonesia gets two mentions in that Top Ten List, but Hawaii is left out.....

I love the picture of that guy surfing a rock ledge in Brazil.


Despite my numerous visits to Indonesia, I heve never surfed there..... that is getting to be annoying, because everyone back home is asking "what is the surf like over there ?"
Next time I go to Indonesia I am determined to plan a surfari !

Maybe Hawaii is just too stuffed for that writer
And yes, you should surf in Indonesia for once. Maybe in Papua?

Surf in Papua?? Di mana?

Unknown.
Difficult area for foreigners to explore.
I wrote a bit in our Indonesian Surf topic to prompt further discussion by anybody who knows of surf spots in Papua.
http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/index.php?...t&p=4169740

^Wouldn't surfing in Papua for foreigners be a bit hard ? especially with the tight control of foreigners coming into Papua ?

Why don't you try Nias instead. I heard its great place to surf.

nias surf

My friend is from Nias and he used to surfed all day long, back in his high school years.
I think its a cool place to grow up...!

Who tells you that? It is hard for journalists and some NGO workers, yes, but as far as I know you dont need a permit to visit there when you are already in Indonesia.

Nias is a magic island for surfers. These days with commercial surf tours making big $$$, even Nias is getting very crowded in the water.
But Indo Surf author Peter Neely (he also reads our forum sometimes) wrote that adventurous surfers had found wonderful surf in Irian Jaya. Most of those spots are still being kept secret. Seek and ye shall find.

Ahh ok

That's what I read! They keep it secret since they wanna preserve the nature. Afraid if the place revealed, it'll be stuff like Bali immediately and no more fun, and the nature will be ruined.

"FOOD FIESTA"
PESTANYA MAKANAN FANTASTIS

19 Juni s/d 5 Juli 2009

BOULEVARD IBCC - THE PLAZA IBCC
Jl. Jend A Yani 296
Bandung

Ada ribuan menu makanan pilihan disajikan disini!!!
Tinggal pilih mau yang tradisional atau yg internasional....

Food Fiesta ini juga bakal diramaikan dengan adanya :

DEMO COKLAT dari Colatta

Sabtu, 27 Juni 2009
Sesi pertama dari pk.10.00 - 12.00
Sesi ke dua dari pk.15.00-17. 00
Lokasi : Area Food Fiesta
GRATIS ICIP-ICIP & RESEP COKLAT bagi peserta demo.
Peserta demo akan diberikan pengetahuan dan demonstrasi cara membuat Coklat Praline & membuat dekorasi dari coklat.

NOTEBOOK FIESTA
"Kembali ke sekolah dengan teknologi terbaru"
INEX - Istana Notebook Xenter - Lt. Upper Ground The Plaza IBCC

Bandung Furni Expo 2 - Pameran Furniture & Interior
Boulevard IBCC by FOCUZ Organizer

Holiday & Back To School
Boulevard IBCC by Cipta Production

Automotive Promo

So, don't miss it !!!
Ayo serbu kuliner-nya !!!

"FOOD FIESTA"
PESTANYA MAKANAN FANTASTIS

19 Juni s/d 5 Juli 2009

BOULEVARD IBCC - THE PLAZA IBCC
Jl. Jend A Yani 296
Bandung

Ada ribuan menu makanan pilihan disajikan disini!!!
Tinggal pilih mau yang tradisional atau yg internasional....

Food Fiesta ini juga bakal diramaikan dengan adanya :

DEMO COKLAT dari Colatta

Sabtu, 27 Juni 2009
Sesi pertama dari pk.10.00 - 12.00
Sesi ke dua dari pk.15.00-17. 00
Lokasi : Area Food Fiesta
GRATIS ICIP-ICIP & RESEP COKLAT bagi peserta demo.
Peserta demo akan diberikan pengetahuan dan demonstrasi cara membuat Coklat Praline & membuat dekorasi dari coklat.

NOTEBOOK FIESTA
"Kembali ke sekolah dengan teknologi terbaru"
INEX - Istana Notebook Xenter - Lt. Upper Ground The Plaza IBCC

Bandung Furni Expo 2 - Pameran Furniture & Interior
Boulevard IBCC by FOCUZ Organizer

Holiday & Back To School
Boulevard IBCC by Cipta Production

Automotive Promo

So, don't miss it !!!
Ayo serbu kuliner-nya !!!

"FOOD FIESTA"
PESTANYA MAKANAN FANTASTIS

19 Juni s/d 5 Juli 2009

BOULEVARD IBCC - THE PLAZA IBCC
Jl. Jend A Yani 296
Bandung

Ada ribuan menu makanan pilihan disajikan disini!!!
Tinggal pilih mau yang tradisional atau yg internasional....

Food Fiesta ini juga bakal diramaikan dengan adanya :

DEMO COKLAT dari Colatta

Sabtu, 27 Juni 2009
Sesi pertama dari pk.10.00 - 12.00
Sesi ke dua dari pk.15.00-17. 00
Lokasi : Area Food Fiesta
GRATIS ICIP-ICIP & RESEP COKLAT bagi peserta demo.
Peserta demo akan diberikan pengetahuan dan demonstrasi cara membuat Coklat Praline & membuat dekorasi dari coklat.

NOTEBOOK FIESTA
"Kembali ke sekolah dengan teknologi terbaru"
INEX - Istana Notebook Xenter - Lt. Upper Ground The Plaza IBCC

Bandung Furni Expo 2 - Pameran Furniture & Interior
Boulevard IBCC by FOCUZ Organizer

Holiday & Back To School
Boulevard IBCC by Cipta Production

Automotive Promo

So, don't miss it !!!
Ayo serbu kuliner-nya !!!

wow...treble..

anyways. lots of food fiesta events in Jakarta too recently, especially traditional food supported by Kecap Bango!

Was a mistake.. hehe.. the connection was confusing, to say the least...

i want to surf indonesia one day.

Julia Robert & Brad Pitt to film in Bali
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/06...9s-support.html

Bali was voted the World’s Best Island in 2009 by Travel + Leisure magazine


and:

Indonesian Tourism On The Road To Recovery After Jakarta Bombing


Andrew Drew July 31st, 2009 Global Travel News, News

Twelve days after the twin bomb attacks in Jakarta, the Indonesian tourism industry has witnessed an optimistic recovery with the increase of room occupancy rates in five-star hotels and tourist arrivals, officials said on Monday.

“According to data from the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the number of tourist arrivals has been increasing since Tuesday,” Arie Budhiman, head of the city’s culture and tourism agency told a press conference.

“As of Sunday, the Jakarta International Hotel Association reported that room occupancy in the city’s five-star hotels had reached a normal 70 percent again.”

The J.W. Marriot Hotel and Ritz-Carlton were the target of a calculated terrorist bombing on July 18 which has shocked the nation’s tourism industry.

Room occupancy rates dropped within three days of the bombings in five-star hotels from 70 percent to 59 percent as tourist arrivals dropped from 2,680 on July 18 to 18,48 on July 20.

Bali, which was voted the World’s Best Island in 2009 by Travel + Leisure magazine, has not been affected so much by the bombings as hotel occupancy rates remained steady, however a cruise ship carrying 1800 passengers had cancelled a planned stop.

Tourist numbers have been recently recovered in Bali for the first time since the 2002 bombings, and further bombings in 2005.

Quotes from the Jakarta Post. For more information visit www.thejakartapost.com

Sanur Village Festival August 25 – 29, 2009

The Balinese village among the first to welcome tourist visitors in the 1930s continues its proud tradition of gentle hospitality by hosting the 4th Sanur Village Festival August 25-29, 2009.

Pledged by its organizers to be "bigger and better" than last year's successful festival, a "Marine" theme for 2009 will celebrate the beaches and ocean that form nature's boundary for Sanur and a central element in the life of the people of the beachside community.

Conceived and driven by the indigenous residents of Bali, the Sanur Village Festival will once again provide five action-packed days of traditional performance, parades, music, food exhibits and water sports activities.

More detailed information on the program promised as the date of the festival draws near.



Ramadan food festival at Banteng Square

Central Jakarta municipality will hold a Ramadan Food Festival at Banteng Square to enliven the fasting month.

The festival will run from Aug. 28 to Sept. 15, and feature 200 food stalls open from 4 p.m. to late in the evening.

Central Jakarta Mayor Sylviana Murni said the festival would feature various traditional delicacies from 44 subdistricts in the municipality.