Today's Top 3 News: 8 Best Cities to Visit in Indonesia, Gorgeous Alternatives to Bali

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - According to the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, TripAdvisor named Bali among the world’s top destinations in 2023. The province is inarguably the most famous tourist spot in the country, drawing up to 500,000 visitors from abroad every month, based on data from Statistics Indonesia.

But, Indonesia is a vast country. While Bali often steals the spotlight, there’s so much more to explore beyond this iconic island.

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A team of economists at state lender Bank Mandiri uncovered a discrepancy in the recorded imports of garment and textile products from China to Indonesia between 2004 and June 2024. According to Trade Map data, the actual imports may be as much as double the official figures, amounting to an estimated US$265 million or approximately Rp4.2 trillion, with an assumed exchange rate of Rp15,916 per US dollar.

“This gap is relatively substantial, roughly double the recorded imports by BPS (Central Statistics Agency),” said Dendi Ramdani, Department Head of Industry and Regional Research at Bank Mandiri, during a virtual press conference on November 20, 2024.

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto said his overseas trip successfully bagged a total of US$18.5 billion, or Rp294.5 trillion. Prabowo said the investments showcase the optimism of partner countries towards the Indonesian economy.

"It exceeded the target. I believe this is quite good, showcases global trust in Indonesia’s economy,” he said in a press statement after attending the CEO Roundtable Forum at Lancaster House, London, on Thursday, November 21, 2024, cited from a video uploaded by the Presidential Secretariat.