Indonesia to expand tourism market to Asean countries

The government is committed to expanding Indonesia`s tourism market in Asean countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

"This year we will start to expand our tourism market to Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines," deputy director for Asean region at the culture and tourism ministry Chrismiastutie said here on Tuesday.

According to her, the three Asean countries were considered potential for Indonesian tourism market in Asean after Singapore and Malaysia.

Especially for the Philippines, she expressed optimism that the number of tourists from the country to visit Indonesia would increase by 210,000 this year.

"We have made tourism promotion for several time last year in the Philippines so we are optimistic that around 210,000 tourists from the country will visit Indonesia this year," she said.

But she added that the number of tourists from Thailand and Vietnam would not probably be big enough.

"It is because the people of Thailand are not eager to travel very much," Chrismiastutie said.

However, she was optimistic to be able to net tourists from the two countries to visit Indonesia.

Therefore she would apply four marketing strategies, namely to participate in the exchange of tourism, to be active in sales mission, to support Indonesia festival, and to optimize Visit Indonesia Tourism Office.

She said that the Culture and Tourism Ministry this year has an agenda of 75 promotion events abroad with 17 activities in Asean countries, 18 in Asia, 13 in Europe, and 12 in the Middle East.

"The Asean tourism market is very potential because there has been an agreement among Asean tourism ministers about Asean for Asean, and if it is implemented, it will be very good for our tourism sector," she said.

According to her, the gateways for Asean tourists in Indonesia are Bali, Jakarta, Batam, and Bandung.