Bali’s Gianyar Regency is home to some of the island’s most popular cultural tourist destinations. Gianyar Regency is perhaps best known as the home of Ubud, Bali’s arts and culture capital, which welcomes millions of tourists every year.
Ubud has become something of a spiritual pilgrimage destination for international travelers, and now leaders are teaming up with leaders from North Sumatra for cross-cultural collaboration and tourist development.
Earlier this week, the Gianyar Regency Government received a visit from representatives of Bank Indonesia (BI) for North Sumatra Province and the North Sumatra Provincial Government at the Gianyar Regent’s office.
The visit aimed to discuss strategies for developing integrated destinations based on culture and education, while also strengthening the partnership between the two regions to advance more sustainable tourism.
The meeting also sought to explore best practices in integrated destination management that could serve as a reference for the development of the Lake Toba Special Economic Zone (KEK). Bali is already home to two special economic zones, the Sanur Special Economic Zone and the still under construction Kura Kura Special Economic Zone.
Lake Toba in North Sumatra is an up-and-coming tourist destination that tourists planning trips to Indonesia will hear increasingly more about in the coming years, as it is one of the central government’s Super Priority Destinations.
The Super Priority Destinations are also referred to as the five new Balis and are Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Borobudur in Central Java, Mandalika in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Likupang in North Sulawesi, and Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara.
Speaking during the meeting, Iman Gunadi, Director of the BI Representative Office for North Sumatra Province, shared, “Thank you to the Gianyar Regency Government for welcoming us. We hope the experiences and input gained through this meeting can serve as a reference for the future development of the Lake Toba Special Economic Zone.”
In reply, the Gianyar Deputy Regent Anak Agung Gde Mayun shared, “We believe that sustainable economic development must maintain cultural identity, empower local communities, and maintain environmental sustainability.”
Lae toba is a culturally rich and naturally beautiful area of North Sumatra. As more and more tourists look to create multi-stop vacation itineraries, Lake Toba and the wonders of Sumatra are proving to be increasingly popular options.
The easiest way to reach Lake Toba from Bali is to take a short flight from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International to the provincial capital of North Sumatra, Medan, before taking a bus or private vehicle to Parapet, which is the main gateway to Lake Toba. Most tourists travel over Lake Toba to Samosir Island, which sits within Lake Toba itself.
Lake Toba is the largest volcanic lake in the world, and tourists are always blown away by the warm welcome and impressive natural landscape.
There are plenty of cultural wonders to explore, including the villages of Ambarita and Tomok, and tourists can scratch beneath the surface by visiting historical landmarks such as King Sidabutar’s tomb and the Huta Bolon Museum.
Tourists traveling to Bali who want to immerse themselves in culture are wise to spend time in Ubud. For those who aren’t able to make it to North Sumatra Province and Bali Province in one trip, never fear. Bali offers some incredible cool climate and fresh water volcanic lakes to enjoy.
Perhaps the most famous lake in Bali is Lake Batur, which sits beneath Mount Batur and can be enjoyed during a few days’ stay in Kintamani. For something a little more serene, consider a visit to Lake Beratan, in the Central Highlands of Bedugul.
In terms of off-path lakeside gems in Bali, the Twin Lakes in the north of the island are perfect for experiencing crowd-free comfort, cultural immersion, and fantastic camping.
To be totally ahead of the trends, tourists looking for a lakeside escape should visit Yeh Malet Lake in Karangasem Regency. Only just reopened to the public after major environmental restoration work, Yeh Malet Lake will be the destination hit list for 2027…so visit in 2026 before everyone finds out about it!
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