SYDNEY, 3 April 2018. Celebrity Chris Brown heads back to Indonesia this Friday night on popular TV program, The Living Room. During this trip he communes with Komodo Dragons and enjoys an overnight stay on a luxury old-school phinisi sailing vessel in Komodo National Park, Flores, Indonesia.

“Sailing Komodo National Park is a consideration for travellers wanting a unique travel experience,” says Miriam Tulevski, representing the Visit Indonesia Tourism Office, Sydney.

“Publicity about Indonesian phinisis is increasing so we encourage trade who are unfamiliar with this type of Indonesian holiday experience to watch the program on Friday night,” adds Ms Tulevski.

“Wonderful Indonesia is maintaining a focus on aquatic tourism in 2018 including cruising, sailing and yachting through to snorkelling and diving,”

One of four UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites in Indonesia, the spectacular Komodo National Park comprises three major islands and 26 smaller ones. A day trip can include seeing Komodo dragons – the world's largest lizard – on Komodo or Rinca Island, climbing Padar Island and snorkelling at Pink Beach.

Crater lakes in in shades of blood red, aqua and turquoise are a reward for climbing Mt Kelimutu in East Flores and travelling beyond the popular sights.

There are three main ways to access Flores and Komodo National Park. Independent travellers can fly into Labuan Bajo – a 70 minute flight east of Denpasar, Bali and take a 25 minute taxi to town. Garuda Airlines offers special add on deals to Labuan Bajo when booking an international return ticket. High quality hotel accommodation is still limited but is available as are villas.

Komodo National Park including Komodo Island can be enjoyed in a day with a speedboat and captain or over a couple of days on a phinisi sailing boat. These can be booked in advance. Add a day or two in Labuan Bajo, fishing village, either side of a trip to the islands.

Major cruise companies are including Komodo Island in itineraries departing Australia.

Boutique vessels including yachts and phinisis are hosting spice islands cruises which include multiple remote islands. These depart various ports in Eastern Indonesia and travel the routes of the Dutch, Chinese and Arab spice traders and explorers.

The Living Room Flores story was sponsored by Wonderful Indonesia, Garuda Indonesia, Plataran Ambasi and Komodo Flores Tours.

The program will air this Friday night on The Living Room, Channel 10 at 7.30pm.

Ends.

Issued by:

Miriam Tulevski

Visit Indonesia Tourism Office, Sydney

M: +61 419 425 455

E: mtulevski@apmd.com.au

Note to editors:

For more information visit: http://www.indonesia.travel.

Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago and one of the most diverse nations on earth. It has over 17,000 Islands, 5,000 unique recipes, 350 ethnicities, 750 languages, a 400 year colonial history and among the world's richest variety of plant and animal life. Every province in Indonesia offers a distinct culture with variations in food, language, landscape, architecture, festivals and rituals, history, religion and more. This richness is captured in Indonesia's national motto “Unity in Diversity.”

The country stretches 5,100 km along the equator between Australia and Asia covering the same distance as Perth to Auckland. It is bordered by the Pacific and Indian Oceans. 

Indonesia is aiming for 20 million visits by the end of 2019 with some 2 million expected to come from Australia.