Indonesian Ambassador to Japan visits Bukittinggi to strengthen tourism sector

The Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Japan, Nurmala Kartini Pandjaitan Sjahrir, visited Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, to gather local information and strengthen Japan-Indonesia cooperation within the tourism sector. The delegation was personally welcomed by the Mayor of Bukittinggi, Ramlan Nurmatias, at the Bukittinggi City Hall on Tuesday, accompanied by the Regional Secretary and several heads of departments.

Nurmala Kartini Pandjaitan Sjahrir noted that Bukittinggi possesses significant potential, particularly in the field of tourism. She emphasised the need for initiatives to revitalise and enhance Bukittinggi’s tourism appeal to attract Japanese visitors. The Bukittinggi City Government is being encouraged to collaborate with tour and travel agencies to prepare tourism promotional materials regarding travel planning. This ensures that foreign tourists visiting West Sumatra, and Bukittinggi in particular, can access clear information from the outset.

“Several months before travelling, they (the Japanese people) should already know where they will stay, where they will shop, where the toilets are, and so on. Japanese citizens are very attentive and meticulous regarding toilets, cleanliness, and the portion sizes or flavours of food,” she stated. She added that the history of Bukittinggi is highly interesting to foreigners, especially the Japanese, and suggested that these historical narratives should be prepared and presented in various foreign languages to facilitate international promotion.