Pura Ulluwatu Bedugul Bali Indonesia

The next in our series of travel updates for holiday enthusiast readers, we bring you updates from the South East Asian gem, Indonesia.

Indonesia, the world’s third largest democracy – the country’s diversity is formidable. Some thirteen and a half thousand islands, two hundred and fifty million people, three hundred and sixty ethnic groups and more than seven hundred languages. If one thinks of Golf, the places that come to mind are Scotland or Ireland – however, Indonesia harbors one of the best kept secrets in the world or travel – it is a golfer’s paradise.

Excerpts from an interaction with Sanjay Sondhi, country manager with VITO India.

Attractive and Unexplored Destinations of Ireland

Indonesia is a culturally diverse country, one place on earth where nature and culture blend to create a long lasting impression. It is a home to around 300 ethnic groups and 700 languages and most importantly it is the only country across the globe which has over 17,000 amazing islands.

Though Bali is the most well known of these islands, the beauty and memorable things to do in Indonesia goes beyond this main tourist destination. We are promoting 10 new tourist destinations as “the new Bali” viz. the diving havens of Wakatobi in South Sulawesi, Morotai in Maluku, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara, Tanjung Kelayang in Bangka Belitung and beach enclaves of Tanjung Lesung in Banten.

Wakatobi Sulawesi

Additionally, Thousand Islands in Jakarta, Unesco heritage site of Borobudur Temple in Yogyakarta, the country’s largest freshwater lake Toba in North Sumatra and the active volcanoes Bromo-Tengger-Semeru in East Java. Indonesia are not only limited as summer holiday destinations from India but a year round affordable luxury holiday for families, wellness, shopping and food experiences.

Travelers and beyond

With the changing lifestyles of Indians travellers, there is a boom in the ‘bleisure’ segment; the lines between business and leisure travel are blurring, and working professionals are increasingly embracing work-related travel opportunities.

There are lot of  queries especially from the young entrepreneurs and business travelers who are rewriting the rules of the corporate game. These travelers tend to take one or two leisure trips each year, regardless of demographic segment or travel frequency.

Borobudur Temple – Yogyakarta

Usually, longer the flight, the higher the likelihood for leisure. More Indians are traveling to celebrate special events, seeking adventure and unique experiences. It is also observed that  more and more Indians are setting off on journeys abroad, either with their families, friends or by themselves. This segment of traveler takes short breaks multiple times and indulge in unique offerings that are experiential in a destination.

Check out how you can get the best Indonesian experience

Our focus is on activities which will result in destination awareness amongst travel agents and will enable them to create various customised itinerary according to the need of the customers. We are continuously organising seminars, roadshows and workshops in multiple cities to educate travel trade partners.

In addition we are organising FAM trips in collaboration with top travel organizations . airlines and hotels in order to make them well acquainted with the destination. We keep the tour operators and travel associations updated on all the latest happenings at the archipelago through social media.

We are participating in various travel trade fairs and MICE, food festivals, wedding fairs to promote Indonesia as a perfect tourist destination.

Women and Solo Travelers

There are many benefits of traveling alone, especially to a country as mesmerizing as Indonesia. In fact, many women travelers have expressed their surprise that they feel safer than expected when exploring this country independently.

There are plenty of things to do alone in Indonesia. It’s safe and fairly common for travelers to visit tourist attractions such as museums and beaches alone. If you’re not sure whether to travel solo to a particular place, try to join a group trip or ask your hostel/hotel management if they arrange trips to said destination.

Most major cities in Indonesia have a reliable and organized public transportation system. You could also take part in a guided or independent city tour and try regional foods, shop for crafts, and observe the ways of the locals.

Visa is free for Indian tourists travelling to Indonesia.  Visit Indonesia, the archipelago has everything to offer, starting from culinary, adventure, scenic beauty, temples and many more.

The above details are based on an interaction of Jane D’cruz, Mumbai Correspondent, Udaipur Times with Sanjay Sondhi, Country Manager, VITO India.