The brilliant sarongs, endless flowers, azure seas and vivid markets are just the start of the experiences to be savored in Indonesia. This international favorite is about as vibrant and varied as it gets.
The adventurous can explore rainforests and coral reefs, or visit with Komodo dragons and orangutans, and for the culturally curious, there are ornate temples and palaces, ethnic arts and fascinating festivals.
While mainly known for Bali, Indonesia is chock full of other alluring destinations, and with stepped up efforts to significantly boost meetings, conventions and incentives business, the choices for groups wishing to indulge in its distinctive diversity are expanding.
“What makes us so unique is that we are the most varied country in the world,” said Nia Niscaya, director of international marketing for the Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia. “We are a huge country with the fourth-biggest population, 250 million. We have 700 ethnic languages and over 500 ethnic groups. And many don’t realize how big Indonesia is—roughly the same distance as between New York and Los Angeles, only water-based, with more than 17,000 islands.”
What makes the destination truly wonderful, Niscaya added, is the people.
“We have people who live in harmony with different ethnic groups, languages, even religion,” she said. “We are Muslim mostly, but we respect those who are Hindu and Buddhist as well. We are one in common as a nation. We always feel blessed and we are always happy with other cultures.”
That sentiment shows when it comes to visitors, with traditional customs that create unforgettable experiences for attendees.
“Every ethnic group has a welcome dance, which shows how very pleased we are with those who visit,” Niscaya said. “Or can you imagine, a dinner during your meeting, when hundreds of local people carry the food on their heads as respect to the creator and serve you. It’s a Balinese offering. For us, it’s not only about the food, it’s about giving you an experience and making the local people and customs a part of your event.”
One of the most unique experiences Laurent Tanguy, general manager and partner of Essence of Bali, a local DMC, put together for a group was an offering ceremony with a Balinese priest and a local villager before serving dinner on the beach.
“The participants could make a personal wish with a handmade bio-organic coconut candle and offer it to the sea gods,” he said. “People felt unique and bound to the sea when they saw the hundreds of candles floating.”
For another event, Tanguy also infused local flair by blocking a main road in a Balinese village from traffic and setting up a custom dinner on the road for 80 people, including the villagers, along with entertainment.
Bali, with excellent hotels, including top meetings choices such as The Mulia and properties by Four Seasons, Hilton, Hyatt, Melia, Sofitel, St. Regis and Westin, is Indonesia’s standby for meetings and incentives. Another top choice for meetings and conventions is the energetic, culturally rich metropolis of Jakarta, also well-equipped for a wide range of groups and home to the new Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta. Additionally, Indonesia Convention Exhibition, the largest convention and exhibition center in the country, opened in 2015 in the Tangerang District of the Jakarta.
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According to Niscaya, the country’s visitor arrivals will likely hit a record 12 million for 2016, and there is a big push to expose visitors, group attendees included, to other destinations throughout Indonesia, where infrastructure and organized group experiences continue to grow.
“One great choice is Bandung, which is very different from Bali,” she said. “It is known as the ‘Paris of Java’ because the weather is so mild year-round, there are a lot of flowers, and the people are very fashionable. It’s a very historical city with European architecture. The food is also very unique; it’s authentic Indonesian, and the people are very creative.”
Yogyakarta, also known as Yogya, is another group favorite, Niscaya said.
“Yogya was the capital of Indonesia before Jakarta, and we also still have the kingdom system there,” she said. “They have a palace, and attendees can experience the royal family and see the changing of the guard ritual.”
Yogyakarta’s vast infrastructure is suited for a variety of groups. One of its newest properties is The Alana Hotel and Convention Center, with 269 guest rooms, 10 meeting rooms and a ballroom that accommodates 2,000 people.
Yogya is also home to Borobudur, the oldest Buddhist temple in the world.
“Borobudur is a must to see and stay one night or even as a full-day excursion from Bali,” said Tanguy of Essence of Bali, which also has offices in Yogyakarta and Bandung. “At Borobudur, we have done a temple dinner with a lantern launch followed by a monks blessing ceremony.”
Other interesting group experiences in Yogya, according to Niscaya, include learning the craft of batik, the Indonesian art of producing colored designs on textiles, and taking classical folk dance classes.
On the remote island of Sumba, Niscaya recommends a special experience for high-end incentives: Nihiwatu, named by Travel & Leisure as the No. 1 resort in the world for 2016.
“It is well known for outdoor activities like diving and surfing, and spa and wellness, which is a big part of Indonesia,” she said. “It’s what makes us truly different. We start massage when you are a baby, and there are special treatments for everything throughout life. When you come to a meeting in Indonesia, that is why you must experience massage. It’s ingrained in our lifecycle.”
Nihiwatu, however, is also renowned for its programs with the local community.
“One unique program allows visitors to teach locals about living a healthy lifestyle,” she said. “You get very involved, and you feel like you have experienced and contributed to the culture, which is what visiting Indonesia is all about.”
