Saturday, 30 August 2008 |
17:53 UAE time
The Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism is set to announce the appointment of a Dubai-based tourism promotion marketing firm at Arabian Travel Market (ATM).
The Middle East market has become important for the growing Indonesian tourist market, which represents 9% of the country's GDP, and Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik believes the country offers the "ultimate in diversity".
He noted that Indonesia offered a variety of options for Middle East agents to sell, from beach holidays in Bali, cultural and heritage trips to UNESCO World Heritage Sites Borobudur Temple and Prambanan Temple in Java, "fantastic shopping" and sport and spas.
"And as the world's most populous Muslim country, Indonesia also offers an environment that is very hospitable and welcoming to those of the Islamic faith," he said.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has labelled 2008 Visit Indonesia Year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the country's nationalist party and Wacik said the body aimed to attract seven million international visitors to the country by the end of this year.
"Special events are being put together across the archipelago throughout 2008 featuring music, culture, the arts, festivals and sport," he said.
"But we have also put together special packages featuring a number of attractions such as adventure tourism, cuisine, cultural heritage, diving and cruising, golf, shopping, spas and spiritual destinations."
Cruise tourism was another emerging sector for the Middle East market highlighted by Wacik.
"We are working to encourage cruise tourism to grow in Indonesia by improving our port and harbour infrastructure, notably with Benoa in Bali, to accommodate a wider range of cruise ships, offer more supporting cruise services, and to make Bali a key turnaround port cruise destination for South East Asia," he concluded.
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