However, the tourism potential should be expanded to foreign countries to enable people in other parts of world to gain a broader understanding of the beauty of Indonesia`s natural, cultural, and artistic attractions as well as the lifestyle by capitalizing on the existence and assistance of Indonesian embassies in foreign countries.
Indonesia`s tourism promotion activities can be conducted through business forums, arts and cultural performances, exhibitions, and cooperation with airline companies in some foreign countries.
Recently, the tourism ministry is launching a major program in a bid to lure more tourists from Russia through cooperation among airlines, hot deal packages, and digital programmatic tools, which are the application of unusual methods to achieve extraordinary results.
At the Indonesia-Russia Business Forum, opened by Minister of National Development Planning and Head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Bambang P.S. Brodjonegoro, in the presence of some 500 invitees, Director of Tourism Development for the European Region Agustini Rahayu delivered a presentation on the use of tourism infrastructure in a bid to increase the number of tourist visits and the development of Indonesian tourism marketing.
At the Festival Indonesia event held for the third time, the Ministry of Tourism collaborated with the Indonesian Embassy in Russia to attract more tourists from Russia to visit Indonesia, which showed a promising increase as compared to the number of visitors between 2016 and 2017.
The total number of Russian visitors arriving in Indonesia reached 80,514 in 2016, while the figure increased to 110,529 visitors in 2017. This shows a positive increase of 37.28 percent. More than 100 thousand Russian tourists were recorded to have visited Indonesia, the first time in a decade, he noted.
Agustini Rahayu, familiarly known as Ayu, noted that Bali was widely known in Russia, so it was necessary to consistently promote other destinations, such as Lombok, Bintan, Batam, Yogyakarta, Lake Toba, Samosir Island, and Raja Ampat, as was identified during the panel discussion with Rostourizm , Aviacenter, ITM Groups, and Interfax Tourism.
This condition indicates that the maritime environment is still a major attraction for visitors from Russia coming to Indonesia, the largest archipelago in the world, with more than 17 thousand islands, throughout the year. Indonesia should continue to be promoted in Russia to boost Foreign Direct Investment from expenditures made by Russian tourists while living and staying in Indonesia.
This year, Indonesia is promoting the top 18 destinations that meet our "3A" principles of accessibility, facilities, and appeal. The country has to narrow it down to just three other than the popular Bali, the world-famous Borobudur Temple in Central Java, as the largest Buddhist temple in the world; Lake Toba in North Sumatra, with its extraordinary natural beauty; and perhaps the scenic beach Labuan Bajo in Nusa East Southeast.
The European region has shown a positive trend over the last few years. England, France, Germany, Holland, and Russia are the top five European markets for Indonesia.
The Indonesian Embassy in Copenhagen again held Indonesia`s Performing Arts and Culture in Denmark along with Boyolali Art Ambassador, who was present in Copenhagen to promote art and culture from Central Java, with the aim of promoting tourism in Indonesia.
Ismail N. Pulungan, head of information, social, and culture of the Indonesian Embassy in Copenhagen, said he admitted Denmark was the third country to be visited after having earlier performing art in Sweden and Norway.
The art and cultural performances, held at the embassy in Copenhagen, were attended by 200 invited guests comprising several foreign ambassadors and VIP guests, the Danish community, and the Indonesian diaspora, as well as the extended family of the Indonesian Embassy in Copenhagen.
Speaking in connection with the art performances held in the yard of the embassy`s office in Copenhagen, Indonesian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark M. Ibnu Said stated that the visit of the Danish art ambassadors in Denmark demonstrated the diversity of Indonesian culture, including some traditional dances that can be introduced to Danish society.
The Art Ambassador from Boyolali City collaborated with the INDA Dance Group from Denmark to feature dance forms, such as Kala Kridha, Kusuma Bangsa, Bujang Ganong, and Mask Dance, as well as welcome speeches by head of the Boyolali delegation and a get-together.
Various activities held in foreign countries through the business forum, festival, and exhibition are expected to help Indonesia record an extraordinary rise in tourism arrivals.
Reporter: Eliswan Azly
Editor: Andi Abdussalam
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
