Indonesia intensivies promotion of tourism

JAKARTA (JP): In an effort to promote its tourism industry Indonesia will increase its participation in international tourism events.

"Indonesia will take part in exhibitions, travel marts, cultural performances as well as the presentation of handicraft makers in several international tourism events in the United States, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia in 1995," Director General of Tourism Andi Mappi Sammeng said yesterday.

For instance, Indonesia will participate in the Demma Dive and Travel Show in Los Angeles next month and the Natas Travel Fair in Singapore in March, he said.

He said Indonesia will also hold joint promotions with Singapore and Malaysia in several countries.

"Together with Malaysia, Indonesia will launch promotions in Sydney, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Rome, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Frankfurt and Taipei," he said.

A Malaysian company, CM Marketing, said earlier that it will organize and promote Indonesia Trade and Travel, a trade and travel event held in Indonesia from Feb. 16 to Feb. 19, for the Malaysian market.

The four-day Malaysian event is expected to attract 500,000 visitors, and is timed to coincide with the post-Chinese New Year and pre-Moslem Idul Fitri.

Andi said Singapore will also launch promotions about the Indonesian provinces of Central Java, Yogyakarta, South and North Sulawesi, West Nusa Tenggara and West Sumatra.

"As the government has recently allowed two Singaporean airlines to serve direct flights to Yogyakarta, Solo, Ujungpandang, Mataram and Manado, Singapore has agreed to promote the provinces," he said.

Andi refused to give any details about the financial budget for the extensive promotions.

"I have no right to comment on the budget. However, there will probably be a total fund of Rp 30 billion from the collection of development tax," he said.

Out of the revenues from the 10-percent development tax imposed on hoteliers, two percent will go to the Indonesia Tourism Promotion Board. (icn)