Magetan, E Java, (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Vice Presidential candidate Sandiaga Uno hinted that strengthening the regions` tourism sector would be part of the Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno pair`s priorities due to its importance for the people`s economy and nation`s development.

In developing the regions` tourism industry, the Subianto- Uno pair would pay serious attention to the availability of good infrastructure and qualified human resources, he said on the sidelines of his visit here on Wednesday.

With the sufficient availability of good infrastructure and human resources in the country`s tourist destinations, Indonesia`s tourism industry could compete with those of Malaysia and Thailand, he stated.

During his visit to Telaga Sarangan area of Plaosan Subdistrict, Magetan District, East Java Province, Uno joined a fun run along with his supporters.

The tourism sector has become one of the backbones of Indonesia`s economy for several decades. Last year, the Indonesian Tourism Ministry recorded that more than 15.81 million tourists visited the country, up 12.58 percent from 14.04 million a year earlier.

The tourism ministry listed five countries as top five sources of tourist arrivals in Indonesia last year. They were Malaysia, with 2.50 million or 15.83 percent; China, with 2.14 million or 13.52 percent; Singapore, with 1.77 million or 11.19 percent; Timor Leste, with 1.76 million or 11.15 percent; and Australia, with 1.30 million or 8.23 percent.

In an endeavor to lure more foreign tourist arrivals, Indonesia has been promoting its Wonderful Indonesia tourism brand abroad.

Last year, the Wonderful Indonesia tourism brand was strengthened in the hearts and minds of Londoners and those currently visiting this capital city of the United Kingdom through a taxi and bus advertising strategy.

A total of 350 famous black cabs and 15 tourist buses of the city were involved in supporting the advertisement of the Wonderful Indonesia brand by highlighting various popular tourist destinations across the archipelago.

Among the popular destinations that the London cabs and buses advertised all through November 2018 were Lake Toba`s Siallagan-Samosir in North Sumatra Province, Mount Bromo and Ijen Crater in East Java, Borobudur Temple in Central Java, and the city of Jakarta.

The unique island of Komodo in East Nusa Tenggara, the Balinese Legong Dance, and Raja Ampat in West Papua Province were also highlighted in the taxi and bus advertising.

Reporting by Louis Rika Stevani, Rahmad Nasution

Reporter: Antara
Editor: Suharto
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