Bandung gets tourism promotion agency

Bandung gets tourism promotion agency

JAKARTA (JP): Several leading hotels in Bandung, West Java, have set up a board called the Bandung Promotion Group which will promote and create a worldwide image for the city.

"This is a great thrill, seeing the travel industry take such an initiative. This is really a private sector project which will ask everyone to participate," head of the Ministry of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications in West Java, Udin Saifuddin, said when announcing the group's establishment in Bandung yesterday.

He said that with the additional number of hotel rooms and other facilities now available, such an effort is very important for a promotion breakthrough.

The initial program of the board comprises of advertising aimed at Jakarta residents, visitors to Jakarta and travel agents in Indonesia and Singapore now that the state-owned air carrier, Merpati Nusantara, has a route linking Bandung and Singapore.

The Bandung Promotion Group currently groups 12 hotels committed to paying monthly contributions to support the promotion campaign. Other hotels, as well as travel agents, airlines, restaurants and pubs are welcome to join in, as the board will promote the whole city of Bandung and its surroundings.

The advertising campaign, based on various specific attractions of Bandung, is organized by PT Indo Multi Media.

Indo's director Alistair G. Speir said that Bandung, once known as the "Paris van Java", has an incredible array of tourist interests including architecture, shopping, mountains, entertainment and culture. (icn)