Govt to improve accessibility for Chinese tourists<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications
\nJoop Ave pledged yesterday that the government will improve
\naccessibility for Chinese tourists visiting Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"We need to improve visa services for Chinese to attract more
\ntourists from China, the world's most populated country," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Joop, who visited China from July 17 through July 22, signed a
\nmemorandum of understanding for promotion of cooperation in the
\ntourism industry between the two countries with the chief of the
\nChinese National Tourism Administration, Liu Yi, in Beijing last
\nweek.<\/p>\n
"Based on the agreement, we will launch action plans,
\nincluding provision of better services and accessibility for
\nChinese tourists," he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, for example, will prepare more Chinese speaking
\ntour guides, he said.<\/p>\n
Joop also said that both countries will encourage visits of
\ntheir nationals to each other.<\/p>\n
So far there are two Chinese air carriers serving Indonesia --
\nAir China and China Southern -- three times weekly. And Garuda
\nIndonesia flies to China twice a week. Current flights to and
\nfrom Hong Kong, however, total 31 times per week, with 16 flights
\nprovided by Cathay Pacific and 15 by Garuda.<\/p>\n
During his Chinese visit, Joop also met with Chinese Minister
\nof Post and Telecommunications Wu Jichuan and Vice Premier for
\nEconomic Affairs Zou Jia Hua.<\/p>\n
Procedures<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the president of PT Setia Tour, Nurdin Purnomo, who
\njoined Joop on his China trip, told The Jakarta Post here
\nyesterday that Indonesian authorities need to arrange easier
\nprocedures for the issuance of visas for Chinese visitors to
\nsupport the development of the country's tourism industry.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, which normalized its diplomatic ties with China in
\n1990 after a 23-year break, is apparently still very careful in
\nopening the door to Chinese. The government, for example,
\nmaintains the ban on books and other printed matter with Chinese
\ncharacters. However, the two countries have tried to improve
\neconomic cooperation, including that in electronic and printing
\nmedia technology based on an agreement signed in February 1992.<\/p>\n
"Cooperation between private sector companies, including
\ntravel agencies, from both countries definitely depends on
\ngovernment policies," Nurdin said.<\/p>\n
Nurdin said that so far Chinese people intending to visit
\nIndonesia must first find sponsorship in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"The Indonesian embassy in Beijing should ease procedures for
\ngetting visas," he said, adding that the Chinese tourist market
\nhas a great deal of potential. (icn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-to-improve-accessibility-for-chinese-tourists-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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