The three-day festival was held to celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Australia, at Elizabeth Quay, Perth, Anita Achmad, chairperson of the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Tourism Promotion Office, said here on Sunday.
The event was jointly organized by the Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI), the Tourism Ministry and the NTB provincial administration.
"Australia is a promising market for the tourism industry of Lombok and Sumbawa Islands. A direct flight from Australia to Lombok is available and Indonesia is the second home for Australian tourists," Anita Achmad said in a statement.
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NTB would continue to promote its natural scenery, culture, traditions and culinary to attract tourists from Australia which is geographically relatively close from Lombok.
Lalu Moh Faozal, head of the NTB Tourism Office said the existing Perth-Lombok direct flight is crucial for the tourism industry in the province.
"Next, we will encourage opening of other direct flight routes to Australia to help achieve our target of attracting 4.5 million tourists in 2020," he said.
NTB will intensify tourism promotion activities to lure more Australians who usually travel overseas at least once or twice a year.
The Lombok-Perth direct flight has helped increased the number of Australian tourists to NTB.
Mandalika in NTB is one of Indonesia's tourism development priorities and is expected to become a world class destination.
In addition to Mandalika, other Indonesia's 10 priority tourist destinations include Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Tanjung Lesung in Banten, Borobudur Temple in Central Java, Mount Bromo in East Java, Wakatobi national marine park in Southeast Sulawesi, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara, and Morotai Island in North Maluku. Comprising Lombok and Sumbawa Islands, as well as hundreds of smaller ones, NTB Province is blessed with beautiful white-sand beaches, forest-covered mountainous areas, and a distinct culture.
NTB is located not far from Bali and scenically no less beautiful than Bali.
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Translator: Nur Imansyah, Fardah
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
