Indonesian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Husin Bagis stated here on Sunday that Indonesia was keen to attract and boost Middle East tourist arrivals by taking part in the travel mart event.
He noted that Indonesias participation in the travel mart was part of its efforts to promote the countrys tourism destinations to boost foreign t ourist arrivals.
The ambassador remarked that his side will also urge Etihad Airways to operate direct flights from Abu Dhabi to Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Province.
"This is an effort to attract visitors to Lombok, a tourist resort that had won the Worlds Best Halal Tourism Destination and Worlds Best Halal Honeymoon Destination awards," affirmed Bagis.
He pointed out that the promotional efforts were also made through advertisements in flight magazines of Garuda Indonesia and Etihad Airways. A cultural promotion program and trip for journalists from the UAE to visit shariah tourism destinations, such as Lombok, West Sumatra, Aceh and South Sulawesi, were also organized.
"These promotional activities also involved Indonesian citizens living in the UAE," he stated.
With regard to the protection of Indonesian citizens abroad, the ambassador noted that some 100 thousand Indonesians lived in the UAE. Several of them have been provided accommodation at the lodging houses of the embassy and Indonesian consulate general.
The efforts to settle their cases are ongoing. During their stay at the lodging houses, the citizens were also imparted training to develop their skills in areas such as cooking, sewing, and makeup.
"The Indonesian embassy and consulate general offer accommodations for Indonesian citizens in the UAE," the ambassador noted.
To this end, Bagis said the embassy hoped to improve the facilities and conditions that will enable the Indonesian citizens to interact well.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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