10 New Balis is a program launched in 2016 by the Indonesian government to invest in and promote 10 destinations in Indonesia as tourism hubs. These destinations are being billed as “the next Bali”, in that they hope to attract the number of visitors that Bali receives.
The “New Bali” phrase is an idiomatic expression rather than literally trying to replicate a geographically and culturally unique island.
There were 16.1m foreign tourists to Indonesia in 2019, of which 9.8 million visited by using airlines, Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali recorded 6.23 million foreign tourists, while the capital city of Jakarta saw the next highest amount with 2.41 million.
Indonesia is a nation of over 18,000 islands, of which about 6,000 are inhabited. The fact that so many visitors only visit Bali highlights why the Indonesian government would want to encourage more tourists on other islands.
10 New Balis
The “10 New Balis” includes:
– Belitung (Bangka Belitung Islands)
– Borobudur Temple (Central Java)
– Labuan Bajo (East Nusa Tenggara)
– Lake Toba (North Sumatra)
– Mandalika (West Nusa Tenggara)
– Morotai (North Maluku)
– Mount Bromo (East Java)
– Tanjung Lesung (Banten)
– Thousand Islands (Jakarta)
– Wakatobi (Southeast Sulawesi)
The project is sometimes called “5 New Balis”, which refers to the locations that have been designated as priority destinations (those being Borobudur, Labuan Bajo, Lake Toba, Likupang, and Mandalika). The 5 has also been reported as 4 Priority Destinations (Borobudur, Mandalika, Labuan Bajo, and Lake Toba.)
10 New Balis Map
[Location map of the 10 New Balis.]
Links and Resources
All you need to know about the 10 New Bali project in Indonesia – Summary from the Ministry of Investment/BKPM.
News Archive
2022
Qatar to invest more than $500m in Indonesia’s ’10 New Balis’ – [25/05/22]
Do you know the stories behind Indonesia’s Five “New Bali”? – [25/05/22]
“In 2021, the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry announced that there will be “New Bali” for holiday seekers to stay in, explore, and be infatuated with. The Ministry is currently going out of its way to developing the Five Super Priority Destinations, namely Borobudur, Central Java; Likupang, North Sulawesi; Mandalika, West Nusa Tenggara; Lake Toba, North Sumatra; and Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara. Note that there are more “New Balis” projected.”
2021
Indonesia prepares $275 million to build infrastructure for ‘five new Balis’ – [09/04/21]
“The government plans to spend Rp 4.01 trillion (US$275.15 million) this year on 108 basic infrastructure projects in five prioritized tourist destinations to spur visits. The Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Ministry reported Wednesday the projects were related to roads, raw and clean water supply, waste management, sanitation, residential improvements and more. The destinations, referred to as the “five new Balis”, are Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Borobudur in Central Java, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara and Likupang in North Sulawesi.”
2020
Indonesia’s 5 New Bali: Ministry ready to develop infrastructure – [27/11/20]
“At the National Coordination Meeting (Rakornas) for Tourism and the Economy, Budi said that to support the construction of the five new Balis, his team is ready to invest in various transportation infrastructures, such as airports or ports.”
Ten new Balis? That’s the last thing Indonesia needs – [04/11/20]
“Plans to recreate the holiday idyll in other parts of the country ignores the devastation caused by an over-dependence on tourism.”
Indonesia lures Australia to invest in ’10 New Bali’ tourist destinations – [11/02/20]
“Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) head Bahlil Lahadalia has offered potential investment opportunities in Indonesia’s 10 new tourist destinations, dubbed the “10 New Balis”, to the Australian government.”
Indonesia plans to build ’10 new Balis’ across the country to lure more international tourists – [27/01/20]
2019
Jokowi hopes infrastructure in 5 “new Balis” to be completed in 2020 – [02/12/19]
“Indonesia has been developing 10 priority tourist destinations, and five of them are expected to be ready within two years.”
Beyond ‘10 new Balis’: New tourism strategy involves nature conservation – [18/11/19]
Indonesia is looking to create 10 new Balis to boost tourism – [16/08/19]
Indonesia beyond Bali: the tourism development plans to create new hubs and diversify the economy – [18/08/19]
“Key to ambitious ‘10 new Balis’ plans is to upgrade provincial airports and improve access to outlying destinations like Lake Toba, Borobudur and Prambanan.”
Indonesia wants to develop tourism sites beyond Bali – [14/08/19]
“More than 6 million tourists visited Bali last year, and Indonesian President Joko Widodo has an ambitious plan to boost tourism and create “10 new Balis.””
2018
‘The 10 New Bali’ book launched in Singapore – [21/10/18]
“An Indonesian tourism book, The 10 New Bali, was recently launched in Singapore in a bid by the government to invite investors to participate in the development of the country’s designated priority destinations.”
If one Bali is good, why not build ten? – [09/08/18]
“Jokowi’s bold but alarming plans for Indonesian tourism.”
Can China help tourist-hungry Indonesia create 10 ‘mini Balis’? – [24/02/18]
“With some infrastructure help from China, the nation plans to create several more attractive holiday spots and keep the Southeast Asian nation’s record-breaking tourist-number streak going.”
Indonesia invites China to invest in ‘10 new Bali’ – [24/01/18]
2017
Like Bali? Indonesia wants to create 10 of them to draw Chinese tourists – [19/10/17]
Jokowi plans to replicate Bali’s success in 10 other Indonesian spots – [10/10/17]
“According to the ministry, the locations were selected based on three As: They are already an attraction in their own right, and they would benefit from better access and more amenities.”
Head of Indonesia investment promotion promotes 10 new Balis – [08/07/17]
2016
Indonesia offering 10 ‘New Bali’ to boost tourism industry – [25/02/16]
“Minister of Tourism Arief Yahya stated here on Thursday that the term “New Bali” is an idiomatic expression being used with the expectation that the offered new destinations would attract as many tourists as those visiting Bali Island.
The ten prioritized tourism destinations in 2016 are Lake Toba (North Sumatra), Belitung (Bangka Belitung), Tanjung Lesung (Banten), Seribu Islands ( Jakarta), Borobudur Temple (Central Java), Mount Bromo (East Java), Mandalika Lombok (West Nusa Tenggara), Komodo Island (East Nusa Tenggara), Wakatobi National Park (Southeast Sulawesi), and Morotai (North Maluku).”
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