The Indonesian Embassy

With the largest archipelago in the world comprising more than 17,000 islands (about 6,000 inhabited),the second longest shoreline in the world (108,000 km), 300 different ethnic groups with each respective cultural traditions and 250 distinct languages, at least five religions (Islam, Catholicism, Protestanism, Hinduism, and Buddhism) living together in harmony, beautiful natural scenes from tropical sandy beaches of Bali to the snowy Peak of the Jayawijaya Mountain, exotic biodiversity in flora and fauna, and the glitters of modernity in the major cities, Indonesia is definitely the ultimate in diversity that holds many promises to tourists.

Tourism in Indonesia is currently overseen by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. International tourist campaigns have been focusing largely on tropical destination with white sand beaches and blue sky imageries. Beach resorts and hotels were developed in some Indonesia islands, with Bali island as the primary destination. Cultural tourism is also an important part of Indonesia tourism industry. Toraja, Prambanan and Borobudur temples (included in the World Heritage List of the UNESCO), Yogyakarta and Solo (cultural capital of the major ethnic group, the Javanese) and Minangkabau are popular destinations for cultural tourism, apart from many Hindu festivities in Bali.

Tourism in Indonesia is a lucrative business opportunity. About 5 million foreign tourists have visited Indonesia annually since 2000. During January through November 2007 the number of tourists visiting Indonesia jumped a promising 14% compared to the same period in 2006 according to the Indonesian Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS). The 4.11 million arrivals through Indonesia’s 15 main entry points were boosted by a resurgence of tourism to Bali, which saw a 32.3% increase to 1.59 million visitors to the island in the January to November period. Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta airport recorded the second highest number of tourists at 1.05 million arrivals. The Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism estimates

that counting arrivals through smaller entry points as well as cruise passengers, the total number of visitors to Indonesia for 2007 reached 5.5 million, up 12.9 % from the 4.87 million foreign tourists who visited Indonesia in 2006 who spent a total of US$4.45 billion.

Visit Indonesia Year 2008, launched on 29 December 2007 in Jakarta by H.E. Mr. Jero Wacik, the Minister of Culture and Tourism of Indonesia, is a world-wide campaign is directed to attract 7 million visitors to come and enjoy their stay in Indonesia in 2008.

Overseas, Visit Indonesia Year 2008 in Bulgaria was launched by Minister Wacik on 21 March 2008 at the National Archeological Museum in Sofia.

Indonesia contains one of the world’s most remarkable geographical boundaries in its distribution of flora and fauna. There are thousands species of exotic tropical animals and plants, among others Rafflesia Arnoldi, the largest flower in the world; Komodo dragon the largest living lizards in the world; the orangutans; beautiful Cendrawasih birds; and the smallest monkey in the world, Tarsius, all these rare species find home in the Indonesian islands.