The Indonesian government and Fundacion Metropoli have signed an agreement on Thursday 11th of January,  to develop 10 new areas in Indonesia that are being promoted to become new tourist destinations.

The agreement was signed by National Development Planning Agency Head Bambang Brodjonegoro and  Alfonso Vegara, Founder and  Honorary President of Fundacion Metropoli, in Jakarta.

“We are now developing 10 regions to become the ‘new Bali.’ The President [Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo] has stressed the importance of comprehensive mapping in developing the regions to become world class [destinations],” said Bambang in a statement on Friday.

He added that the project would start on Bintan Island.

“It is time to follow up planning with detailed implementation while the government is considering the financial scheme by seeking investors to develop the areas or using the alternative scheme,” said Bambang, who is also the national development planning minister.

The five areas of cooperation are knowledge co-creation in urban solutions; sustainable cities and communities policy networking; a joint fellowship program; Indonesia future regional and cities lab alliance and a pilot project (incubation) of sustainable cities and region concept.

The Fundacion Metropoli, which had awards bestowed upon it by the United Nations, European Union and European Spatial Planning Council, would consider the local social-economic conditions when developing certain regions to become tourist destinations, Bambang added.  (bbn)