RI to hold tourism mart

JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of international travel agency executives have confirmed their attendance at Indonesia's first International Tourism Mart, which will be held from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3.

Director General of Tourism Andi Mappi Sammeng announced yesterday that the mart, slated to become a major annual international event in Jakarta, is designed to match some 250 domestic travel industry suppliers and other sellers from 23 provinces with top foreign tour operators and other buyers from 35 countries in fixed one-to-one meetings.

Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave is scheduled to open the Rp 3.6 billion (US$1.65 million) mart which will be held at the Jakarta Hilton Convention Center.

The event was organized by a committee consisting of the Indonesian Tourism Promotion Board (BPPI), the national air carrier Garuda Indonesia, the Indonesian chapter of the Pacific- Asia Travel Association (PATA), the Association of Indonesian Travel Agencies (Asita), the Directorate General of Tourism and the city's municipal administration. (icn)