"Although an economic crisis is taking place there, Europe is still a potential market for Indonesia`s tourism. Tourism is a sector which remains strong during a crisis," the minister said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Tourism and Creative Economic Minister Marie Elka Pangestu said Europe remains a potential market for Indonesian tourism.
"Although an economic crisis is taking place there, Europe is still a potential market for Indonesia`s tourism. Tourism is a sector which remains strong during a crisis," the minister said here on Wednesday.
She noted that economic turmoil was taking place in a number of European countries, yet the tourism sector there, adversely, was growing.
Spain and Greece, for example, experienced an 8 to 9 percent growth in their tourism sector, the minister said.
"Even inbound tourism in the United States grew by 5 percent," she added.
The World Economic Forum in Davos late last month concluded that the highest growth of the tourism sector would take place in Asia, Mari said.
"Growth will take place in Asia so we will continue to increase promotional efforts and seek the way to build more
effective connectivity," the tourism minister said.
Marie said that the connectivity factor included infrastructures, flight quotas and other supporting facilities which still faced constraints at home.
Until now, Indonesia has been focusing its tourism market on a number of countries in Europe. These countries still experienced positive growth in 2011.
Those European countries included Britain (grew by 3.73 percent), France (7l74 percent), The Netherlands (2.88 pct), Germany (2.29 pct) and Russia (14.92 pct).(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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