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Indonesia looks to expand halal tourism through the ‘10 Balis’ plan, underscoring up-and-coming destinations outside of Bali
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has launched a plan to diversify the nation’s tourism market by promoting locations beyond the popular Hindu-dominated island of Bali. The ‘10 Balis’ initiative is particularly suitable for halal tourism, as all the chosen destinations are Muslim-majority parts of Indonesia.
Widodo’s plan will include the upgrade of provincial airports, the construction of new amenities and improved access to the 10 selected regions. The destinations chosen through the ‘10 Balis’ initiative include Lombok Mandalika and Labuan Bajo in Nusa Tenggara, Borobudur Temple, Bromo Tengger Semeru and Tanjung Lesung Beach in Java, Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Thousand Islands in Jakarta, Tanjung Kelayang Beach in Banten, and Wakatobi and Morotai Island in North Maluku.
When traveling, having access to halal food is a top priority for Muslim tourists. Luckily, in destinations outside of Bali finding halal food is less of a worry, as most Indonesians eat halal. Popular halal food in Indonesia includes soto (a kind of soup), bakpau (meat-filled bun) and asinan sayur (pickled vegetable salad).
Potential deals with UAE companies to participate are forming. Bahlil Lahadalia, Chairman of Indonesia’s Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), invited Dubai-based Jumeirah Group to invest in two of the ‘10 Balis’ destinations, namely Wakatobi and Labuan Bajo.
