Manado is a Diver’s Paradise The microphone at the tourism presentation in Manado was held by Ms. Priscilla, who is in charge of the Japanese market for North Sulawesi Travel, a tour operator in the province of North Sulawesi. Manado is the capital of North Sulawesi Province, located on the island of Sulawesi, 4,100 km southwest of Narita Airport and just a short distance across the equator. Although Manado is located almost directly below the equator, the climate is pleasant throughout the year, with an average temperature of 25 to 28 degrees Celsius. The crystal clear waters are known as one of the best diving spots and are a favorite destination for divers from all over the world. The area is characterized by clear blue waters, coral reefs, and dynamic drop-offs that quickly lead to deep waters.
North Sulawesi, where Manado is located, is recommended as a long stay destination. Next, Priscilla introduced the attractiveness of North Sulawesi as a long stay destination. Reasons for recommending North Sulawesi include the fact that it is one of the safest places in Indonesia, the climate is good, the cost of living is lower than in Bali, etc., the land is friendly to Japanese, and international flights are available. Assuming a Japanese retired couple, the typical monthly cost for two people is about 100,000-120,000 yen (for food, utilities, transportation, and leisure), with Jakarta at 150,000-200,000 yen and Bali at 130,000-150,000 yen as a comparison. Compared to Bali and Jakarta, the cost of living in North Sulawesi is lower. Internet communication is easy and inexpensive in Indonesia, and a SIM-free smartphone is all that is needed; the average price of a prepaid SIM card for calls and Internet data is about ³,000 for a 5GB data plan.
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