I believe that the potential to bring more tourists from South Africa is wide open
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Pavilion garnered the Best Travel Destination Award at the Gauteng Getaway tourism exhibition organized in Johannesburg, South Africa, on October 4-6, 2019.

"We are confident to say that Indonesia has become a popular tourist destination for South African travelers. Here, we will easily find advertising and tour package promotions to Bali," Indonesian Ambassador to South Africa Salman Al Farisi stated.

Ambassador Al Farisi opined that the exhibition offered the people of South Africa a glimpse into hundreds of other choices of tourist destinations in Indonesia that are no less interesting than Bali.

"I believe that the potential to bring more tourists from South Africa is wide open," he emphasized.

Visitors have thronged the Indonesian Pavilion, strategically located in the middle of Ticket Pro Dome, Johannesburg, during the three-day exhibition.

The Indonesian Embassy in Pretoria, Indonesian Trade and Promotion Center (ITPC) in Johannesburg, and the Ministry of Tourism adorned the Indonesian Pavilion with a Hindu temple gate and images of tourist destinations in Indonesia, such as Labuan Bajo, Borobudur temple, Mount Bromo, and Lake Toba.

The selection of tourist destinations highlighted at the Pavilion was in keeping with the priorities of the Tourism Ministry that is currently promoting the "10 New Balis."

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Ambassador Al Farisi expounded that the Indonesian Pavilion at the Johannesburg tourism exhibition proffers genuine experiences to every arriving visitor. The Indonesian Embassy in Pretoria invited dancers, who performed several traditional dance forms, such as the Balinese Legong Dance, East Kalimantan Hornbill Dance and the West Java Peacock Dance.

The dancers, who then invited guests to join in their performance, further enlivened the atmosphere at the Indonesian Pavilion, thereby effectively attracting visitors, including also presenting them with an opportunity to sample Indonesian specialties, such as rendang, yellow rice, and peanut crackers.

The synergy conducted by ITPC Johannesburg, the Indonesian Embassy in Pretoria, and Ministry of Tourism resulted in the Indonesian Pavilion being bestowed the "Best Travel Destination" award.

The Ministry of Tourism conducted varied promotional strategies to boost foreign tourist visits to Indonesia, one of them being to send various sales missions to potential markets and participating in international tourism exhibitions, such as the Gauteng Gateway.

South Africa is viewed as a strategic and potential market, given the positive trend of increasing number of travelers from this country to Indonesia on an annual basis.

Gauteng Getaway is one of the largest tourism exhibitions in South Africa that presents hundreds of tour and travel vendors, including providers of outdoor activities. Related news: South Africa welcomes opportunity for law cooperation with Indonesia

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Translator: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019