User:CameronClark/sandbox

Map of Indonesia
Indonesia is an island chain that is located in Southeast Asia. It is boarded by Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and Papua New Guinea. Indonesia is made up of about 18,108 islands scattered across 741,000 square miles worth of land. The capital, Jakarta, is located on the island of Java.

The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017 ranks Indonesia 42nd out of 136 countries overall with Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index score of 4.2. The 2015 report ranks the price competitiveness of Indonesia's tourism sector the 3rd out of 141 countries. It mentions that Indonesia has quite good travel and tourism policy and enabling conditions (ranked 9th). The country also scores quite well on natural and cultural resources (ranked 17th). However, the country scored rater low in infrastructure sub-index (ranked 75th), as some aspect of tourist service infrastructure are underdeveloped.

Land
With its thousands of islands, Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world with a coastline stretching about 34,000 square miles. Many of the smaller islands consist of coastal lowlands, meaning that they are primarily flat. Many of these smaller islands are uninhabited as it is projected that only about 1,000 of the islands have people living on them. A majority of the population live on the larger islands where the topography varies. The larger islands generally have a coastline that is flat, but the farther inland one goes, the more mountainous the region becomes.

This region sits between the Eurasian, India-Australia, and Pacific-Philippine plates. The convergence of these plates leads to the mountainous regions of Indonesia. Indonesia has many volcanoes that have come from subduction zones that stretch across the entire area of the country. There are hundreds of volcanoes across this region, and there are over 100 hundred volcanoes that are currently active. In addition to volcanoes, this region has experience many earthquakes and tsunamis. In the 1990's there were multiple devastating earthquakes and tsunamis that struck this area killing over 3,000 people. The most infamous earthquake/tsunami occurred on Boxer Day in 2004 when around 150,000 people were killed in Indonesia alone. This country's position on the Ring of Fire makes it prone to natural disasters.

Indonesia is known for its extensive rain forests. Around 50% of the country is covered by lush, green trees. These rain forests are rich in biodiversity and contain many unique, and endangered animals. Indonesia is experiencing large amounts of deforestation, as these forests are home to a wide range of commodities that can be sold to help the GDP of the country. The government, and global agencies are working on ways to remedy this situation.

Climate
Indonesia sits on the equator which leads to a very hot and humid climate. Due to its position, the temperature remains fairly constant year round with lows at around 72-77°F and highs at around 86-90°F year round. Traveling to higher altitudes has a greater impact on temperature change than seasons do in this region. Indonesia has both a wet season, and a dry season. From the months May through September, Indonesia experiences its dry season with fairly little rainfall. During the other months, rain is much more common and there can be severe storms. Regions with higher altitudes tend to have higher average yearly rainfalls of up to 12 inches higher than regions with lower altitudes.

History
Indonesia is rich in spices, vegetation, and unique animals which made it a valuable source of income for many European countries. At around the 16th century, the Portuguese arrived on the islands and took note of all of the resources that the country had to offer. Noting that there was a demand, and profit to be made, they began sending more people over to help seize the commodities and take over parts of the land. Molucca was one of the first islands that they took over due to the high content of spices that are found on the island. The Portuguese continued to set up ports and explore the island for more potential sources of income.

For similar reasons, the Dutch arrived in Indonesia during the early 1600's. The Dutch East India Company was created to help facilitate trade from the islands back to Europe. The goal of this group was originally just for economic purposes, but they also worked to eliminate foreign powers from gaining land in this region, specifically Portugal and England. They quickly took over much of the land that Portugal had originally claimed and began sending back goods to Holland. The Dutch are known for being harsh to the native Indonesians and stole a lot of their crops, or bought them for much less than they were worth. The Spanish, and Portuguese continued to fight for some of the land, but the Dutch successfully fought them off. The Dutch were the largest internationally player here for about two hundred years until the British finally were able to take over.

The British fought the Dutch at around 1806 and were able to take over a large amount of the land that was already conquered. Britain brought many positive social changes to the islands such as abolishing slavery that the Dutch had implemented. While they made a some positive changes, they still took away many of the natural goods that Indonesia offered and took from local farmers at poor rates. British rule was short lived as they returned the land back to the Dutch with the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814.

The Dutch continued to work to gain more control of the area. As there strove to conquer new regions, they had to consistently put down revolts by natives who were against Dutch occupation. In the early 1900's, the Dutch made a similar stride as Britain and worked to implement more ethical policies for the Indonesians. After being given better treatments and more rights, a nationalist movement started to spread across the country wanting independence. Sukarno founded the most popular national movement in Indonesia, but was arrested for his ideals and was sent away.

During World War II (1942), Japan invaded Indonesia and defeated the Dutch to gain control over this region. More so than the Dutch, the Japanese abused the Indonesians as their only goal was to steal the resources from this country. As the war progressed, Japan noted that their chances of winning were getting smaller. They came up with a strategy where they would help Indonesians gain their independence, hoping that in the end they would return the favor by providing aid when necessary. Japanese officials worked to remove Sukarno and other nationalist leaders from imprisonment. Sukarno would go on to declare independence and become the first President of Indonesia.

After Japan left the region, the Dutch returned hoping to take control once again. After multiple years of fighting, in 1949 the Dutch recognized Indonesia as an independent nation and would stop trying to take control of the land. On August 17, 1945 Indonesia officially received their independence and became their own nation.

Sukarno became the first President of the country and he ruled over Indonesia for about two decades. During part of that time, there were occasional separatist movements that attempted to break certain parts of Indonesia away from the whole. All of these movements were unsuccessful and were controlled. Indonesia had a communist movement that gained momentum during the early years of Indonesia. A communist group sought to overpower the government and take control, but this also never happened. Instead of overthrowing the government, 500,000 communists were killed and/or arrested to stop this movement.

Suharto became the new President of Indonesia after Sukarno got sick and resigned. His reign, known as the New Order Era, saw a lot of success. The economy increased, life expectancy went up went up about twenty years, and the government took a greater control of a lot of the industries. This period saw a growth in the middle class and the country as a whole became much more stable.

Population
Indonesia has a population of just over 266,000,000 people making it the fourth most populous country in the world. Jakarta is the largest city in Indonesia in terms of population with over 9,000,000 people living there. Surabaya, Medan, Bandung, and Serang are also large cities that all have multiple million people living in each. More than half of the people living in Indonesia live on the island of Java. Indonesia has a relatively young population with an estimated 42% of the population being younger than 24.

Government
Indonesia's government consists of a democratic republic with a strong executive branch. The President controls a lot of the power and helps appoint individuals into his Cabinet. The President is selected every five years, and he/she is limited to only two terms in office. There are three branches of the government with a Supreme Court as well.

Joko Widodo is the current President of Indonesia. He was the seventh elected official and has served as President of the country since 2004. Pancasila, Indonesia's philosophical principles state: the belief in in one God, a just and civilized humanism, unity of Indonesia, democratic citizenship lead by wise guidance born of representative consultation, and social just for all the people of Indonesia.

Economy
Indonesia implements a market economy. They rely on exporting a lot of their natural commodities; however, manufacturing and services are becoming a greater source of income. This country is considered Southwest Asia's largest economy and hosts a GDP of over $1 trillion. For many years, agriculture was the main source of Indonesia's GDP, but manufacturing has taken over this role as Indonesia continues to develop. As of 2014, approximately 43% of Indonesians work in manufacturing, 43% in services, and only 14% in agriculture with an unemployment rate of below 6%. Indonesia is currently putting a lot of money into developing the technology and telecommunication fields. As of 2017 Indonesian achieved their goal of having a higher amount of exports and imports.

Language
The national language is Indonesian which came from the Malay language. Indonesia's constitution actually states that Indonesian is the official language of the country. While this is the national language, there are over 700 active languages that are spoken across the islands. Javanese and Sudanese are the two most popular regional languages that are spoken in this area. As the name may assume, many Javanese speakers live on the island of Java, while many Sudanese speakers are found in West Java and Banten.

Many students learn English in school, so it is quite common to find people who have at least a basic comprehension of the English language. Indonesia has many Arabic schools where Arabic is a mandatory class for students to take. For this reason, and the fact that this is a largely Muslim nation, Arabic is also spoken by many people.

Religion
Islam is by far the most common religion practiced in this area. About 85% of the population is a follower of this faith. Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the entire world. The rest of the 15% of the population is a mix between Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, and a few other religions. Islam is believed to have spread to Indonesia primarily from traders that would come and spread their religion along with them. Sunni Islam is the most common form of Islam found in Indonesia. Much of the Hindu population is on the island of Bali. There are many Hindu temples that are spread across the island that have been there for hundreds of years. These temples are very popular for visitors today.

Food/Diet
Typical of many South Asian countries, rice is served with many various meals. Chicken or fish is often accompanied by this rice in a dish. As it is an island nation, Indonesia is known for its fresh seafood. Whither it be crab, mussels, squid, or any other sea creature, Indonesia is known to have freshly caught food on ones plate. Indonesia originally became very popular because of the variety of spices native to the islands. Locals incorporate a lot of these spices into their food which gives the meals an added kick.

It is important to remember that much of the country is Islamic, so certain store locations may choose not to sell pork because Muslims claim it is unholy. If one is shopping at a large market however, they will most likely be able to find almost any type of meat they want, including pork. Indonesian's don't like to waste so it is very common to eat the organs of animals. People often eat the brains or intestines of the animal instead of throwing them away. While in Indonesia, one must try the fresh fruit that is grown on the island. Rambutan, duku, manggis, and salak are fruits that most of the world likely hasn't heard of, but are very delicious. Many people also get their food from street vendors that pedal around cities.

Unlike many modern countries, alcohol consumption in Indonesia is significantly less than what you would find in most large countries. This can most be attributed to the fact that Muslims are not suppose to drink as stated in the Koran.

Some common foods to find in Indonesia are: satay (meet on a stick, similar to a kebab), soto ayum (a chicken soup), and nasi goreng (fried rice).

Customs/Courtesies
It is common to see Indonesians eat with their hands. When doing this, they tend to favor only using their right hand to eat so that their other hand can stay clean. A plate with a little food left on it will indicate that the person is full, and satisfied with their meal.

When meeting someone from Indonesia, it is typical to say "Selamat" which is a sign of respect and means peace. Hand shakes are also a common way to greet, but do to their culture, one should refrain from shaking a women's hand unless she first off initiates. This region has a great appreciation for their ancestors and highly respect the elderly. To show respect, greeting the oldest people in the room first is typical.

When visiting local Indonesians, it is highly disrespectful to turn down any form of hospitality. If something is offered, it should be taken and gratitude should be expressed. Shoes are almost always removed before entering homes as well. Indonesians are kind, friendly people that are welcoming.

Visitors should also keep in mind that this is a Muslim majority country. In visiting certain religious and cultural sites, people should make sure to cover up and show less skin, women especially. Many Hindu temples require that your legs are fully covered if you want to enter, and all mosques will require women to be fully covered and men to have at least pants on.

Holidays
The main religion in this region is Islam, so all Islamic holidays are practiced here. If one wants to travel to this country they should note when all major Islamic holidays are, because stores and shops will most likely be closed, or close early on these days. Most of the holidays that are celebrated in this region are for religious reasons. Hinduism and Buddhism have a lot of holidays that are celebrated widely in Indonesia, even though a majority of the country is Islamic.

February 16 is Chinese New Year.

May 1 is International Laborer's Day.

June 1 is the Birthday of Pancasila, Indonesia's state ideology.

August 17 is Independence Day for Indonesians.

As can be seen from this list, there are only a few holidays that are celebrated in Indonesia that aren't of a religious nature. The days during Islamic, Hindu, and Buddhist holidays, people often times are with their families and paying respect to their religion. Certain days their are celebrations going on in the cities to remember the religions past prophets or leaders.

Visa / Entry Requirements
To enter Indonesia, a passport is needed that is valid for at least an additional six months after entering. If you are in the country for tourism purposes, and plan to stay for less than thirty days, a visa is not required. Indonesia also requires at least one blank page on a passport. A list of countries that are eligible for the visa free travel are listed in the table below:

Currency and Currency Conversion
The currency that is used in Indonesia is the Rupiah.

Key Tourism Niche Markets
Eco-Tourism brings massive amounts of people to Indonesia every year. At one point, over 75% of Indonesia was covered in rain forests and vegetation. While Indonesia has been struggling with large amounts of deforestation, much of the beautiful landscape remains today. People love to come and see the rich biodiversity that this region sustains. Indonesia has 16% of the worlds reptiles and amphibians, 35 species of primates, 17% of the worlds birds, and 12% of the worlds mammals. Many of these animals are unique to Indonesia alone. Unfortunately, due to deforestation and the introduction to invasive species to this region, many of these animals are endangered. Many people want to travel and see these animals before they disappear. To protect this land, Indonesia has made 51 national parks that protect animals and vegetation, and allow visitors to view the beauty of the region.

Sex Tourism is another large form of tourism to this region. Indonesia has a problem with sex trafficking where it is projected that over 40,000 people are subjected to prostitution in the country. Mostly Western tourists travel to this region to participate in sex tourism, and some of the people are victims of sex trafficking. Indonesia's top vacation spots are where a lot of sex tourism occurs, as many travelers want the relaxation the resorts provide and the ability to be a sex tourist at night. Indonesia is, however, working to try to get rid of prostitution and human trafficking.

Adventure Tourism also attracts many people to this region. Certain areas of Indonesia's coast is good for surfing. In 2018, Indonesia planned ten surfing competitions to encourage travel to the country. Many people also enjoy the scenic hiking that the interior of Indonesia provides. Mount Batur is a popular hike that takes people to a 360 view of the island of Bali. Quad biking is another popular activity. There are many tours throughout the country that take people through the rain forests of Indonesia. The quad bikes are very popular as people can experience a thrill and look at nature at the same time. Canyoning is another activity that brings a lot of people to Indonesia. Bali and other islands have well known canyoning sites that lead to incredible waterfalls and views.

Many travelers make their way to Indonesia for cultural tourism. This region is very religious and contains many Muslim mosques, Hindu temples, and Buddhist temples. Lots of these temples have been standing for centuries and have incredible architecture. In addition to these temples, Indonesia has a extensive amount of local museums that show the culture of the people in a particular region.

Level of Tourism Development
Indonesia is well prepared to handle large numbers of tourists every year. There are numerous five star hotels and resorts that line most big cities and beaches in this country. Many international hotel brands have locations in Indonesia. In addition to high class hotels, there are many Airbnb rentals that can be purchased on the islands. After a recession in the late 90's, Indonesia strove to put even more money in their tourism department to attract international visitors. Aside from hotels, shopping is another key for popular tourism regions. There are many markets and stores that cater to tourists, by selling souvenirs and offering relaxing services.

In the past twenty years, Indonesia has seen a growth in the number of tour companies in the region. Popular tourist islands have seen a rising amount of visitors, which has led to this increase in companies.

Transportation Options
Using the local transportation system is a popular way to get around this nation. They are many taxis throughout Indonesia that make getting around fairly simple. Taxis are usually easy to find and a timely way to get around as the drivers are very familiar with the area. Tourists need to make sure that the cab drivers run the meter, because there have been complains in the past where drivers don't set the meter and try to scam Western tourists. Rental cars can be difficult if the driver is not familiar with the area. Certain areas of Indonesia have complicated roads, so if the driver is not careful it is common to get lost.

Tourists who don't plan on traveling long distances have historically enjoyed using mopeds or scooters to get around. This not only provides a thrill to the driver, but it is a quick way to navigate through the city. These scooters are available to rent in many locations around hotels and resorts.

For those who want to travel to nearby islands, there are ferries that are fairly cheap. Flying is another smart, but more expensive, option if you need to travel further distances. Garuda Indonesia is the main airline and isn't too expensive as long as the traveler packs light. For travel to different areas on the same island, there is a bus network that is very cheap, but slow.

"Must See" Attractions
On the island of Bali, there is a Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. This forest is filled with thousands of wild monkeys that live around century old statues that were hand carved from stone. For only a few US dollars, tourists can buy a bundle of bananas that they can feed to the monkeys found throughout the forests. Tourists are warned before entering that these are wild monkeys and they should remember not try to touch or pet the monkeys.

The Uluwatu Temple is another must see attraction in Indonesia. It is situated on a hundreds foot high cliff that overlooks the Indian Ocean. This temple, along with many others, has wild monkeys that roam around. The view from the top is incredible and worth while, however tourists need to be careful when they come here. The monkeys in this area are smart and are known to snatch peoples loose items and either throw them off the cliff, or not return the items until the person gives the monkey some food in return. Tourists just need to make sure that they leave all of their loose items in the car or keep them secured when they visit this site. Borobudar Temple is the largest Buddhist temple and it is located on the island of Java. It is over 100 feet tall and is over 26,000 square feet big. The temple is over a thousand years old and shows the architecture that encompasses Indonesia at around the eighth and ninth centuries. The design is full of symbolism such as the ten terraces that symbolize the process to attain Buddhahood. The structure consists of a pyramidal base with multiple terraces, circular platforms, along with multiple stupas (dome shaped Buddhist structure). There are hundreds of Buddha statues and carvings into the temple. From an aerial view, the temple appears to be in the shape of the lotus flower, This is intentional as the lotus flower is the sacred flower of Buddha. In the 1970's, UNESCO partnered with Indonesia to preserve this historic landmark. While many tourists come to view this temple, it is still used as a place of worship for Buddhists. This temple is one of the most visited locations in all of Indonesia.

Secondary Attractions
Komodo Island is located on an East island of Indonesia. The island has clear blue waters and is home to the largest lizard on Earth, the Komodo Dragon. The island is filled with these lizards that tourists can go and watch roam around. In addition to the lizards, this island has one of only seven pink sand beaches in the entire world. Surrounding this island there are multiple places known as "Manta Points" where snorkelers can swim with Manta Rays. Lake Toba is on a northern island called Sumatra. This is the largest volcanic lake in the entire world, and one of the deepest in the entire world. At a length of about 62 miles and a width of 19 miles, this lake is used for both commercial and recreational use. This is a common place for tourists to travel to try to escape the heat of Indonesia. There are multiple locations to rent boats for water sports, and for other activities. Due to its higher elevation, the temperature surrounding the lake is cooler than by the coast. The lake is surrounded by lushes, green trees and much of the lake has crystal clear water. In certain areas by the lake, there are lots of shopping opportunities for locals and tourists alike.

Weather / Climate Concerns
Between the months of November and April, Indonesia goes through its rainy season. These are the monsoons months were heavy rainfall is expected. During periods with powerful, extensive rain, Indonesia is known to have mud slides that can temporarily block streets. Before traveling, tourists should check the weather forecast for each island that they plan to visit. The amount of rainfall on each island can vary so it is important to plan ahead of time.

Due to its location on the equator, Indonesia has high temperatures all year long. This means that everyone is susceptible to sun burns. While there are a lot of trees on these islands, it is important to make sure that one has amble sun block to prevent burns. While Indonesia continues to develop, their hospitals aren't at the level of many highly industrialized countries.

Safety / Security Concerns
Indonesia is located on the Ring of Fire, an area highly susceptible to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. If an earthquake were to happen, one should try to take cover under a study object if they are inside. If somebody is outside, try to find an open area to take cover. If an earthquake is strong enough, a tsunami is likely to follow. If this were to happen, the best course of action is to get to the highest ground possible. Being on the ground level can be incredibly dangerous.

Due to protests and uprisings, certain areas of Indonesia are becoming more dangerous. Papua and West Papua are two areas that are currently experience a lot of violence and it is suggested that tourists do not travel to this region. There have been reports that tourists have been kidnapped and government officials must work to free these people.

In the past, Indonesia has had a history of terrorism. Government organizations have been actively working to reduce the number of attacks in this region and the number of attacks appear to be on the decline. It is recommended that western tourists stay in bigger groups and do not wander alone. It is also recommended that tourists take extra care on holidays as the risk of an attack is higher.

Petty theft is not unusual in Indonesia. Pick-pocketing is common in this area so tourists should take extra care to ensure that all of their personal belongings are secured. When not needed, it would be smart to leave passports and other important documents back at a hotel in a safe. To help prevent pick-pocketing, tourists should not leave valuables in sight as this will only encourage thieves to attempt to steal. Keep bags, purses, and other personal items in front of the body to help keep belongings safer.

Environmental Concerns
Deforestation is a large problem in Indonesia. This country is rich in natural resources such as lumber. Much of Indonesia's rain forests have been cut down for the export of lumber, and for development purposes. As one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world, deforestation is a big concern for the animals in this region. Many animals that are unique to Indonesia are being forced to relocate so they can survive. Fortunately, Indonesia has taken steps to control deforesation and made it a greater emphasis to replant trees where they are cut down so that they can start to grow again. Indonesia also has many national parks. These regions are protected to help save the landscape, plants, and animals.

Indonesia also struggles with marine pollution. During the rainy seasons, pollution gets even worse as rubbish is carried from the land down into the water and on the beach. Many of the beaches that tourists visit our clean, but a majority of the beaches are scattered with plastic and other trash. Indonesia places second in the world in marine pollution behind China. Similarly to deforestation, Indonesia is working to try to clean up their beaches and ocean. In March 2017, Indonesia promised that they would put $1 billion USD into cleaning up the ocean. Indonesia also plans to continue to make tourism a greater part of their economy. Part of encouraging more people to come involves cleaning up their waters so that people want to be there.

Socio-Cultural Concerns
When greeting someone from Indonesia, it is common just to say "hello" and then shake the person's hand. While English is not a formal language of Indonesia, many children take English classes in school so many people in this country will be able to speak at least a little bit of English. Since this is a Muslim majority country, it is important to respect many of the customs that Islamic people practice.

Tourists should be careful not to make extended eye-contact with people. Similarly to other countries, this may infer a feeling of aggression, or just awkwardness between both parties. Speaking loudly should also be avoided. This draws a lot of attention and can lead to unwanted confrontation. Couples should stay away from hand holding, kissing, and touching in public. This is a conservative region so many Indonesians keep displays of affection private in the home.

Touching an Indonesians head is seen as disrespectful and should be never done. Also, the left hand is seen as unclean so try to minimize the use of the left hand when in contract with Indonesians. Pointing can also be seen as disrespectful, so use an open hand to point instead.

Emergency Contacts
In case of an emergency, call the following numbers for assistance: The following is a list of some of the Embassies that are located in Indonesia's capital of Jakarta:

International Tourist Arrivals into Indonesia:
This table shows the number of internationals tourists arriving into Indonesia from 2010-2017 :