Australia to provide funding to help Indonesia boost tourism, create 10 new Balis

Written on the 7 August 2017

Australia's ambassador to Indonesia has emphasised the Federal Government's commitment to try and help boost tourism in Indonesia.

On Monday, Paul Grigson said Australia would be providing funding through the World Bank to help create 10 new Balis.

That commitment reportedly dominated discussions with Indonesia's Maritime Affairs Minister, Luhut Pandjaitan, in Jakarta on Monday afternoon.

"We talked mainly about tourism and the master plans that we are funding through the World Bank to help Indonesia with its tourism plans," Mr Grigson said after emerging from the discussion.

"We are talking about how we might work with Indonesia on developing the 10 new Balis that the President [Joko Widodo] talks about."

A draft World Bank document shows Indonesia is seeking a $US180 million ($230 million) loan to initially develop three locations as new tourism hotspots and an additional $US570 million ($721 million) from the World Bank based on results.

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Source: ABC