Indonesias tourism minister Arief Yahya hailed the award announced at around 2.30am on March 12.
"This is a pride achievement. ITB (International Tourismus Borse) Berling is the worlds biggest tourism exhibition attended by 187 countries, 10,000 exhibitors, 180,000 visitors in Messe, Berlin. All tourism industries, tour and travel agencies, airlines, cruise service, hotels, resorts, attractions, governments, associations gathered at ITB Berlin. Wonderful Indonesia has shown its class at the world level," he said.
This is the second title after the one Indonesia won in 2016 when Wonderful Indonesia successfully came out as the Best Exhibitor 2016 beating "Imagine" of South Korea which was placed second, "Incredible of India at the third place, followed by Maldives, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.
This year Wonderful Indonesia topped South Koreas "Imagine" and Thailands "Imagine".
Malaysia was ranked 10th out of 75 countries and 1,466 exhibitors taking part in the event.
Indonesias participation along with a number of delegations in the event from year to year has proven able to increase transactions significantly.
In 2015 Indonesia was able to record transactions worth Rp4.2 trillion and in 2016 it increased to Rp6.5 trillion. "The target for 2017 was set at Rp10 trillion," the minister said.
Next year he wished Indonesia would be able to win the Best of the Best title and become the champion of five continents.
This year Indonesia set up a 487 square meter pavilion to present various art exhibitions including dances from Papua, Bali, Betawi and Aceh.
At the event Indonesia raised the theme of maritime and cultural diversity which was expected to be able to give the public in Europe a full picture of Indonesia.
Deputy for overseas tourism marketing I Gde Pitana said he had promoted Wonderful Indonesia more intensively at ITB Berlin by cooperating with Indonesian industry players.
"We brought a delegation consisting of 135 travel agencies, hotel and regional tourism service representatives," he said.
The Indonesian pavilion at Hall 26 A Number 120 was storied in the form of a traditional Phinisi ship and Wae Rebo traditional house of Flores.
He said the two icons represented the theme of Wonderful Indonesia which was "Maritime and Cultural Diversity."
Pitana hoped Indonesias tourism brand Wonderful Indonesia would become more popular following the participation in ITB Berlin to make more foreign tourists to come to the country.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
