A paradise of emerald islands
SEEKING TO FIND A BALANCE BETWEEN THE EXPLOITATION AND THE PRESERVATION OF ITS SPECTACULAR BUT FRAGILE NATURAL BEAUTY, INDONESIA IS LURING INVESTORS AND TOURISTS ALIKE

the MINISTRY OF CULTURE & TOURISM is determined to preserve Indonesia’s unique heritage.

For centuries travelers from all over the world have marveled at the sights, sounds and tropical verdant beauty of the Indonesian archipelago. The 17,000 plus islands situated between India and Australia form a vast mix of peoples, cultures, customs and landscapes. Steep mountains, spectacularly deep gorges, fast flowing rivers, blue highland lakes, lush rainforests, and palm savannas fringed by endless beaches are home to over 220 million people forming the hundreds of ethnic groups that inhabit the country of Indonesia.
Lying within the tropical zone, the islands of the archipelago enjoy consistent temperatures, with an average between 78º-82ºF throughout the year. Most of Indonesia’s population is concentrated on six major islands: Java, Sumatra, Bali, Kalimantan (also known as Borneo), Sulawesi and Irian Jaya (now known as Papua). Two major island groups contribute to the formation of the Indonesian archipelago: the Moluccas lie between Sulawesi and Irian Jaya, and the Lesser Sundas stretch eastward from Bali. Jakarta, with a population of 12 million, is Indonesia’s capital city. Initially a trading harbor in the 11th century, Jakarta is now an eclectic metropolis where tradition and innovation coexist in unexpected harmony. From colorful rickshaws on the streets to looming skyscrapers, the city is an idiosyncratic blend of the old and the new, something very typical in Indonesia.

I. GEDE ARDIKA Minister of Culture and Tourism

The traditional Indonesian lifestyle incorporates a careful symmetry between the inner and the outer, the physical and the spiritual and the vital role that culture and tradition still play in daily life has been gracefully captured by Indonesia’s tourism industry. As Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. I. Gede Ardika, elaborates, “in tourism, the basic concept that we are developing in Indonesia is based on our way of life; a philosophy that we call the balance of life. Balance of life means the balance between our physical and spiritual needs; the balance needed between the individual and society; and the balance between the exploitation of resources and the preservation of resources.”

Eco-tourism is a perfect match for such a stunning philosophy and, as luck would have it, 2002 has been named World Eco-Tourism Year by the World Tourism Organization. Indonesia’s efforts to prepare for this event are based on both land and sea tourism, including activities involving the country’s famed volcanic landscapes. Special interest is being paid to Ujung Kulon national park in West Java, the Bunaken coral reef reservation in North Sulawesi and the Merapi volcano in Central Java. This year Indonesia will also host the World Sustainable Development Expo 2002 in Bali from June 4 to June 7, which will coincide with the Fourth Preparatory Committee on Sustainable Development there from May 27 to June 7. Some 6,000 delegates, including UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, representing189 countries are expected to attend. The results of the Bali Earth Summit preparatory meeting will be further deliberated at the World Summit in Johannesburg later in the year.

Mr. Ardika believes that the current focus on eco-tourism provides interesting opportunities for the foreign investor as well as the visitor. He explains, “first, we are interested in developing eco-tourism because Indonesia has such a significant number of forests and national parks that are worth visiting. The most interesting factor for investors is the fact that Indonesia has many islands; small, pure, untouched and uninhabited islands that could be developed as special resorts. There is a great opportunity there. Secondly, in conjunction with eco-tourism, we are presently developing our marine tourism as two-thirds of our country consists of sea. We are starting with the development of cruises, combined with other activities such as deep-sea fishing, etc. The cruises will be divided into three areas; first, around-the-world cruises which stop in Indonesia; second, regional cruises between Asia, ASEAN and Indonesia, or between Australia and Indonesia; lastly, and most importantly, cruises on traditional boats between the beautiful Indonesian islands.”

Although Indonesia’s image has suffered recently in the international press, much has been blown out of proportion and the country is eager to reassure the world that it is still a safe haven for visitors. Mr. Ardika states, “I think there are misperceptions overseas of Indonesia due to a lack of complete information. Fighting, for example, is not characteristic of the Indonesian people. What has happened in the last few years was the result of rapid democratization and the switch from a centralized to autonomous system. One of my priorities now is to change the distorted image of Indonesia overseas and to show that Indonesia is a safe and attractive country for investment and for visitors.”