Characterized by turquoise water and white sandy beaches fringed with palm trees, the Gili Islands are some of the most picturesque and idyllic islands in Indonesia and are the region’s leading tourist destination. As the pull of the Islands continues to draw a more affluent demographic, the Islands are reacting by building higher quality accommodation and more upmarket restaurants and bars.

The Indonesian government is keen to promote tourism in the area and foreign and domestic investors are being enticed by the growing number of opportunities. We spoke with BASK’s CEO Greg Meyer and Bill Barnett of C9 Hotelworks to see why now is the time for the Gilis to shine and how it is leading the charge in delivering an upmarket resort unlike anything seen before.

“Gili Islands much like Thailand’s Koh Samui started out as a backpacker’s destination, it is rapidly evolving into a luxury getaway destination while still retaining their authentic nature,” commented Bill.

In recent years, access to the Gili Islands has improved greatly and this is one of the primary reasons the Gilis’ real estate market is so sought-after. You can cross the waters directly from Bali in 90 minutes and it takes only 10 minutes to travel the 1.5 nautical miles from Lombok. With more direct flights to Lombok, transport has been a catalyst for growth in tourism in recent years as visitors shift from Bali to the Gilis and Lombok to escape the rapid pace of day-to-day life.