The development of Super Priority Destinations across Indonesia has turned out to be a magnet for investors who are keen to financially back Indonesia’s tourism future.
At present, the five focal points of developments are Lake Toba (North Sumatra), Borobudur (Yogyakarta and Central Java), Labuan Bajo (Komodo, East Nusa Tenggara), Mandalika (Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara) and Likupang (North Sulawesi).
In Lombok, real estate investment company Invest Islands is developing Gran Meliá Lombok Resort & Spa on a 16-hectare plot of land in Torok Bay, just 25km away from Mandalika. The US$80 million project, targeted to finalise in 2024, will have approximately 110 pool villas with distinctive concepts and facilities including a beach club and restaurant, a floating bar, a spa and tennis courts.
Construction will abide by sustainable development principles, such as the use of organic, locally-sourced materials for construction, and implementation of energy saving fixtures like solar-powered golf buggies, solar panels and rain water storage.
Invest Islands has also set up Invest Islands Foundation to help the local community cultivate an organic farm in South Lombok, and to provide training on health, waste management and ecological issues at local schools and local communities.
Jack Brown, CEO and co-founder of Invest Islands, said: “Lombok is in the midst of a private and public investment boom. It is a chain reaction and more and more developers and contractors are coming into the area. Besides, the recent MotoGP Mandalika race has put the destination in the limelight nationally and internationally.”
Lombok International Airport has undergone a terminal expansion during the pandemic, with Pullman Lombok Mandalika Beach Resort set to open in August and a Kempinski property to follow soon.
Over in North Sulawesi, Taka Anugrah Perkasa has picked Bitung City to develop Batuangus 369 tourist site, a 13.2-hectare resort complex in Batu Angus Nature Tourist Park.
Eduard Pangkerego, COO of Artotel Group, the appointed operator of the site, told TTG Asia: “We are riding on the momentum of the government’s efforts to open up North Sulawesi for tourism with the Super Priority status, with Likupang Special Economic Zone as the focal point.”
He recognises North Sulawesi’s tourism potential, pointing to the destination’s international airport in Manado and the government’s courtship of direct flights from Hong Kong and China, among other efforts.
Pre-pandemic, North Sulawesi enjoyed direct arrivals from China on chartered flights.
According to Eduard, the development of both Likupang and Bitung will amplify North Sulawesi’s presence and speed up other tourism development to make it one of Indonesia’s major places to visit.
Eduard shared that Batuangus 369 will not only preserve the environment but also cultivate local nature, culture and heritage.
He said: “The Colosseum (a major development in the first stage of the project), for example, will reflect the identity of nine sub-ethnic groups recognised among the Minahasa people through the architectural concept of its hotels, villas and cultural arts displayed in the complex.”
Indonesia’s minister of tourism and creative economy, Sandiaga Uno, has noted the growing interest of international investors and will facilitate more projects.
Speaking at the Tourism and Creative Economic Investment Forum in Bali recently, Sandiaga revealed that the authorities are inviting new investments in five Super Priority Destinations, eight Special Economic Zones, and 12 sustainable tourism projects across the country.
With choices of a standard room, executive room, suite or pool villa, the Welcome Back package also includes return airport transfers and US$200 of daily spending credit. Abundant F&B options are available at the hotel, such as Vietnamese restaurant, Citron; Maison 1888 by three Michelin-starred chef Pierre Gagnaire; beachside dining at Barefoot; and the Long Bar.
Finnair has updated its summer 2022 flights, as the closure of Russian airspace impacts existing Asian traffic.
While 40 weekly flights to various Japan airports will be suspended and the start of Finnair’s new Busan route will be postponed, the airline will add Mumbai to its operations. The latter will be operated three times a week, with tickets to go on sale from April 5.
Finnair continues to operate daily connections to Bangkok, Delhi, Singapore and Tokyo, three weekly flights to Seoul, two weekly flights to Hongkong, and one weekly service to Shanghai.
Travellers will benefit from Finnair’s services across the US and Europe. In the US, the airline launched a new route to Dallas Fort Worth on March 27, with four weekly flights and full connectivity to American Airline’s extensive network in the country. Another new route, Seattle, opens on June 1 with three weekly frequencies.
According to chief commercial officer Ole Orvér, the airline will increase summer services to over 300 daily flights.
“We continue to serve our key Asian destinations despite the longer routings caused by Russian airspace closure, and also have an excellent offering in Europe and North America.”