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Tag: Holiday

  • Tourism provides largest number of jobs

    Tourism provides largest number of jobs

    President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has said that the tourism industry is the number one provider of jobs.

    “Tourism has employed the largest number of manpower, but indeed it needs a change of the communitys culture,” President Jokowi said before prominent community figures living in Lake Toba area, here, Saturday evening.

    A change is needed because basically the community should be able to serve tourists coming to their region.

    “I hope prominent community, religious, and custom figures could give guidance to the community,” the Head of State said.

    Lake Toba which has been known internationally, has huge tourism potential.

    “However, over the past several years, its image and branding as a tourist area has dropped. Therefore, we work on Lake Toba first, among 10 destinations designated by a presidential decree,” he said.

    Lake Toba area is being promoted as an eco-tourism destination and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) tourism to be developed on 600 ha plot of land in the authority zone.

    The local culture and traditions will be strengthened and promoted as tourist attractions.

    To support the development of Lake Toba as a main tourist destination, the capacity of Silangit Airport will be expanded.

    “I have ordered the transportation minister and Angkasa Pura (state airport operator) to widen and lengthen the runway. I have asked for demolition of its terminal within a week, and the new one should be ready in the end of this year,” he said.

    The president also asked Garuda Indonesia to fly to Silangit Airport thrice a week, whether it is empty or full.

    “We will be grateful if it is full of passengers, so the flights could be served daily, not only by Garuda but also others such as Sriwijaya and Wing Air,” he noted.

    Initially, Silangit Airports capacity would be expanded to 150 thousand passengers, but now it would be increased further to 180 thousand passengers per year.

    The government will also create a world-class flower park to support the Lake Toba tourism.

    Jokowi also urged villagers living around Lake Toba area to plant trees for the preservation of the environment.

    “I just planted trees. The target is 300 thousand trees per district, or one million per year for all districts. We dont want the water of Lake Toba to decrease due to environmental degradation,” he said.

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  • Indonesian airlines have been cleared to begin flying to the US

    Indonesian airlines have been cleared to begin flying to the US

    Indonesian airlines have been cleared to begin flying to the US, after a safety review by regulators.

    The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Indonesia had been upgraded to “Category 1” – the top-tier air-safety rating – after nearly a decade.

    Indonesia’s fast-growing aviation market suffered several high-profile accidents and was downgraded in 2007.

    The European Union also recently lifted a ban on three Indonesian airlines.

    After a safety review in March, Indonesia now complies with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety standards, the FAA said in a statement.

    “With the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Category 1 rating, Indonesian air carriers…can establish service to the United States and carry the code of US carriers,” the FAA said.

    The South-east Asian nation has had 13 fatal plane crashes in the past decade, according to Flightglobal data, higher than the global average.

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  • Indonesia the most favorite destination for Australian tourists

    Indonesia the most favorite destination for Australian tourists

    Indonesia has so far proven to be the most favorite destination for Australian tourists, overtaking New Zealand, Indonesian Ambassador to Australia Nadjib Riphat Kesoema said.

    “The variety of natural wealth and beauty, culture and world-class tourist facilities that the Indonesian government offers to tourists have become special attractions for Australian tourists,” he stated in a press statement released on Saturday.

    His remarks came when the Indonesian Tourism Ministry and the Indonesian Embassy in Australia were conducting a promotional activity at Hotel Hyatt in Canberra recently.

    Besides helping promote mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries, the tourism sector can also create jobs in Indonesia, he added.

    He underlined that he supported the program to conduct tourism promotion in several Australian cities such as Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

    The program will serve as a venue for a meeting between Australian travel agents and their Indonesian counterparts directly, he said.

    The ambassador has called on Australian tourism companies to encourage Australian citizens to visit other Indonesian tourist destinations than Bali.

    Data from the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra showed that almost 85 percent of 1.2 million Australian tourists visited Bali in 2015.

    Nadjib offered potential visitors from Australia other tourist destinations such Toraja, Lake Toba, Raja Ampat, Labuhan Bajo, Tanjung Kalayang, Seribu Islands, Borobudur Temple, Mount Bromo, Wakatobi and Morotai Island.

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  • Over six million tourists visit Indonesia

    Over six million tourists visit Indonesia

    Some six million foreign tourists visited Indonesia since the issuance of presidential regulation number 21 of 2016 concerning visa-free facilities for foreign citizens from 169 countries, an official said.

    While 4,095,264 tourists came from 15 countries which have reciprocal agreements with Indonesia, 2,881,945 tourists came from 144 countries without any such pact with Indonesia, chief of the public relations services of the directorate general of immigration, Heru Santoso, elaborated at a meeting with journalists here on Friday.

    “Admittedly, the figure is still far from the government-set target of 20 million tourists per year, but I believe it will further increase in the future,” he stated.

    He noted that no tourists visited from 10 countries in this list of 169 countries. These ten countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Burundi, Czech Republic, Gabon, Haiti, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Lesotho, Puerto Rico and Saint Lucia.

    “I think the promotion campaign still needs to be intensified,” he added.

    The directorate general of immigration also handled 135 criminal cases (pro justitia) in the first half of 2016, he said, adding at least three foreign nationals were involved in the cases.

    “They committed immigration related crimes. In 2015, five foreign nationals were involved in such cases,” he informed.

    The office also recorded 4,715 cases of immigration administration violation in the January-June 2016 period. The cases involved 117 citizens from countries eligible for visa-free facilities, he disclosed.

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  • East Lampung to develop 11 tourism attractions

    East Lampung to develop 11 tourism attractions

    The government of East Lampung District in Lampung Province, through the local Culture and Tourism Office, is making every effort to develop 11 tourism attractions in the district in its attempt to attract even more local and foreign tourists.

    “East Lampung district government is ready to develop 11 tourist attractions that include natural, marine, and cultural tourism,” local Culture and Tourism Office Chief Mastur remarked.

    Among many districts in the province, East Lampung is rich, beautiful and an interesting area with friendly people and a lot of tourist attractions.

    According to him, among the 11 tourist attractions to be developed include the Way Kambas National Park, Pugung Raharjo Archaeological Park, Kerang Mas beach, Lake Kemuning, Lake Beringin, agro tourism and cultural tourism.

    Of the 11 tourist attractions, Mastur said Kerang Mas beach in Labuhan Maringgai is now being developed.

    Once this beach development is completed, Lake Kemuning and Lake Beringin will also be developed in stages in an effort to attract 250 thousand tourists to East Lampung in 2016.

    “Our target is to see 250 thousand tourists visiting these tourist attractions this year,” Mastur said.

    Lampung province has 64 waterfalls, numerous small, beautiful islands, and seven leading tourist areas where supporting infrastructure facilities are being improved.

    The seven leading tourist areas are the Waikambas National Park; South Bukit Barisan National Park; Kiluan Bay; Tanjung Setia and Krui Marine Tourism; Siger Tower; Mount Anak Krakatau and Sebesi Island; and Bandarlampung Tourism Area.

  • Ministry striving to attract 400 thousand South Korean tourists

    Ministry striving to attract 400 thousand South Korean tourists

    The Indonesian tourism ministry is taking innovative steps to achieve this years target of attracting 400 thousand tourists from South Korea, including by participating in the “Wedding Expo” in Seoul on July 9-10, 2016.

    Assistant Deputy for Market Development of the Asia-Pacific region of the Ministry of Tourism Vinsensius Jemadu stated from Seoul, South Korea, on Monday, that the ministry continued to fill innovation gaps.

    “We are looking for the slightest opportunities to promote Indonesias segment aboard. It has been almost three years that we have participated in events promoting this segment, but now, we will try again,” he noted in connection with the Tourism Ministrys participation at the wedding exhibition to offer honeymoon packages to various tourism destinations in Indonesia.

    Jemadu is optimistic that its target of drawing 400 thousand tourists from South Korea would be reached.

    In 2015, a total of 359,468 South Korean tourists visited tourist destinations in Indonesia.

    Jemadu pointed out that Bali and Bintan were now the most sought-after locations for pre-wedding photographs among brides and also the venues for the weddings of young Korean couples.

    “They really like the beach and the ambience of the tropical waters in Indonesia,” he noted.

    South Korea has direct flight connectivity to Indonesia. As many as three airlines operate flights to two international airports in Indonesia, and there are some 618,748 seats available on flights to the country.

    “This exhibition is held in summer in South Korea. We hope that during winter, South Koreans will leave the country and visit Indonesia that has moderate weather and is always a good option for couples on honeymoon,” he said.

    “Of course, we did this exhibition to promote the country as a wedding destination for couples planning to wed in autumn. It is this momentum that we are pursuing,” he stated.

    Meanwhile, Head of Asia-Pacific Exhibition of the Ministry of Tourism Rita Sofia in South Korea expressed hope that all engaged in supporting the tourism sector in Indonesia will continue to prepare various attractions, amenities, and access to support the arrival of newlywed South Koreans.

    Tourism Minister Arief Yahya seconded Sofias view as he believed that Korea was a potential market that could be tapped by showcasing Indonesias cultural and natural attractions.

    “The Asian market must be tapped by showcasing the oriental culture, and the countries must be frequently visited to create a joint program. For instance, the distance from Seoul to Indonesias tourism destinations, including to Manado, is not too far, so we just need to increase the number of direct flights,” he explained.

    Yahyas recent visit to South Korea already resulted in a commitment made by the two South Korean airlines —Jeju Air and Jin Air Korea — to operate flights to Indonesia.

    “It will boost the number of South Korean tourist arrivals in the country,” he affirmed.

    Industries participating in the exhibition had also prepared a variety of honeymoon vacation packages. General Manager Globlindo Arief Authority has prepared various packages: Bali Honeymoon Escape, Lombok Honeymoon, Tanjung Lesung Honeymoon, Kepulauan Seribu Honeymoon, and Raja Ampat Honeymoon.

  • Garuda Indonesia Raking It In During Idul Fitri Holiday

    Garuda Indonesia Raking It In During Idul Fitri Holiday

    Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia filled more seats on its domestic flights during the Lebaran exodus this year, as more people chose air travel to return to their hometown for Idul Fitri.

    The state-controlled airline’s average load factor — which indicates how much an airline makes use of its seat capacity — went up to 74 percent from June 24 to July 5, a day before Idul Fitri, on all of its domestic routes, Benny S. Butarbutar, Garuda Indonesia’s vice president of corporate communication, said on Saturday (09/07).

    Benny did not give a figure for last year’s Idul Fitri holiday.

    Still, the latest figure could mark a turnaround for Garuda. The full-service airline had seen its load factor dip to 69 percent in the first three months of this year, compared to 74 percent in the same period last year, as weak economic growth forced cost-conscious travelers to opt out of the airline’s services.

    Garuda added 32,000 more seats on 132 extra flights, 112 of which are on international routes, between June 24 to July 17 to cater for Indonesians during the annual Lebaran exodus, Benny said.

    “This represents a 35 percent increase in our extra capacity from the same period last year,” Benny said.

    The National Police estimated 17.6 million people made the travel back to their hometown during the Lebaran exodus this year. Ouf of that figure, 4.6 million chose air travel, up 7.6 percent from a year ago as people’s purchasing power has increased and local airlines offer new fleets and routes.

    Air travelers met with relatively few problems during this year’s Lebaran exodus compared to their peers taking land routes, who were met by hellish traffic jams on toll roads across Java.

  • Ngurah Rai Airport offers additional flights for Lebaran holidaymakers

    Ngurah Rai Airport offers additional flights for Lebaran holidaymakers

    Some airline companies at the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali have started offering additional flights to handle the influx of passengers during the post-fasting Lebaran holidays.

    PT Angkasa Pura-I General Manager Trikora Harjo explained here on Tuesday that the additional flights were provided for international arrivals and departures.

    Harjo revealed that a total of 419 passengers had used additional flights for international arrivals and departures on Tuesday.

    Similar to the long Lebarang holidays in previous years, the flow of passengers at the Ngurah Rai Airport is different compared to that in other regions of Indonesia.

    The Ngurah Rai Airport is always dominated by an influx of both local and foreign tourists keen on spending the long holidays of Lebaran.

    Harjo stated that the number of departures last year had reached 119,937, while this year, it was forecast to reach 151,548.

    Referring to the growth in the percentage of domestic passengers, Harjo has estimated that the flow of departing passengers will peak during the period between six and five days before Eid.

    On June 30, six days before Eid, the number of domestic passengers departing from the Ngurah Rai Airport had reached 15,026 aboard 112 aircraft. This figure indicated a 128 percent increase compared to the previous year.

    As of July 1, five days prior to Eid, the number of domestic passengers departing from Bali was recorded at 15,771, a 105 percent rise from the year before.

    The increase in the percentage of domestic passengers was anticipated as the last working day for both public and private institutions fell on Friday, July 1.

    In this way, the travelers opted to return to their hometowns on the same day as they would get to spend more time there.

    The Ngurah Rai International Airport served 226 additional flights, proposed by seven airlines for both domestic and international routes.

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  • Indonesia ranked 2nd in top destinations for Muslims

    Indonesia ranked 2nd in top destinations for Muslims

    Indonesia has been ranked second in the list of “Top 20 Destinations for Muslim Travelers in Ramadan 2016,” in the Mastercard-Crescent Rating Ramadan Travel Report.

    The deputy for overseas tourism marketing of the Ministry of Tourism, I Gde Pitana on Monday hailed the achievement which showed that Indonesia has become a more favorite destination for Muslim travelers.

    In the survey carried out by CrescentRating, Malaysia was ranked first.

    The survey was carried out to know the 20 favorite destinations for travelers during the 2016 Ramadhan holiday.

    The ten top destinations for Muslim travelers, according to the survey, are Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Turkey, Brunei Darussalam, South Africa, Maldives, United Arab Emirates, Iran and Oman.

    Pitana said in the past few years, a number of countries have focused on Muslim majority markets and have thus become his offices focus of attention with regard to tapping their potential to boost foreign visitors to Indonesia.

    With the recognition, he said, it is hoped Indonesia will be better known among Muslim travelers across the world.

    “This is a potential segment that, we hope, will contribute much to achieving the target of foreign tourist arrivals this year,” he said.

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  • Abu Dhabi to host International Travel Week

    Abu Dhabi to host International Travel Week

    Abu Dhabi will be hosting International Travel Week (ITW Abu Dhabi),  a co-location of synergistic travel events each focused on the fastest growing global tourism source market sectors, in November this year.

    Taking place from November 21 to 25 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center, ITW-Abu Dhabi will aim to deliver a comprehensive programme which will combine targeted meetings with first-class networking opportunities, inspiring knowledge-bound seminars and innovative experiences, culminating in a glittering gala awards evening to celebrate outstanding achievements across the international halal tourism landscape.

    Commenting on the strategic partnership with the host destination, Andy Buchanan, executive organising committee director said: “We are thrilled to bring ITW Abu Dhabi to the culturally-rich and trailblazing city of Abu Dhabi. Against this remarkable backdrop, participants will have the opportunity to discover, connect and be enriched, which in turn will assist them in defining and driving the future of their own business.”

    Indonesia Ministry of Tourism are delighted to be the official Headline Sponsor for the ITW Abu Dhabi 2016, and commented: “Indonesia participates again in 2016 but this time bigger than 2015 as we want to bring more sales.” As a major sponsor of the summit, Indonesia Ministry of Tourism expects to welcome key international delegations, investors, tourism associations and market-leading specialists to the summit.

    Evolutionary progression

    ITW-Abu Dhabi is a progressive and evolutionary event which has developed from last year’s World Halal Travel Summit. The 2015 edition enjoyed unprecedented success, where the summit yielded impressive results, generating more than $18.4 million worth of business on the show floor, and a further $73.5 million stemming from opportunities directly created at the event.

    With more than 6,000 travel professionals expected to participate in this year’s ITW-Abu Dhabi, this transformative five-day event is hotly-anticipated to be the premium platform for the global halal travel, medical and shopping tourism industry.

    With a dedicated commitment to the fiercely and hugely influential fast-growing travel sectors, ITW-Abu Dhabi will continue to shine the spotlight on the exceptional halal, medical and shopping-relevant opportunities available worldwide at this year’s event, with major influencers bringing their insight and knowledge to the seminar stage.

    Expansion of ‘ITW-Abu Dhabi’

    Hot on the heels of 2015’s World Halal Travel Summit success, and in response to growing demand for a platform for discussion and recognition on halal, medical and shopping tourism segments, ITW-Abu Dhabi will this year open up a Ministerial Forum, a high level debate of ministers and key stakeholders on Intra OIC (Organisation of Islamic Co-operation), medical and shopping tourism and the real world challenges of implementation. ITW-Abu Dhabi will also host the second World Halal Travel Awards, a glittering event to recognize outstanding products and service within the halal tourism sector. The winners of the 2016 World Halal Travel Awards will be announced at a gala event in Abu Dhabi on 22nd November 2016. The awards ceremony forms a crucial element of the summit which is the largest gathering of global executives operating in the family friendly travel sector. For the first time, ITW-Abu Dhabi will also introduce ‘The Family Vacation Show’ wherein exhibitors will have a chance to interact with consumers face-to-face. The event will be information packed and created to directly sell and introduce offers, packages and promotions to qualified consumer travel audience.

    Results-driven

    According to Buchanan, the expanded 2016 edition is expected to be a boon for all involved: “ITW-Abu Dhabi was established with a clear objective of providing opportunities to explore and maximise on the latest trends and offerings within the fastest growing travel segments namely halal, medical and shopping tourism. In a concerted effort to distinguish itself on the halal, medical and shopping travel industry event landscape, ITW Abu Dhabi aims to deliver an elevated business-to-business platform that is innovative, inspiring, and result-driven, with the structured five-day programme including elements such as knowledge-sharing seminars, show floor meetings, exceptional networking experiences and a dazzling awards evening. I expect the 2016 edition to be a windfall for those organisations and individuals that exhibit and participate.”

    Confirmed participation for the ITW-Abu Dhabi 2016, stretching across multiple spectrums, hails from a diverse spread of key players including Accor Hotels, Bangladesh Tourism Board, Dinar Standard, Etihad Airways, HCA Healthcare, Holiday Bosnia, and Jannah Hotels, among others.

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  • Khiri Travel the first to earn Travelife Partner status in Indonesia and Laos

    Khiri Travel the first to earn Travelife Partner status in Indonesia and Laos

    Travelife is a leading training, management and certification initiative for tourism companies that are committed to sustainability. Travelife was founded with the support of ABTA in the UK and ANVR in the Netherlands in 2007 as a thorough responsible tourism certification scheme for tour operators and hotels.

    Khiri Travel in Indonesia and Laos have both been awarded Travelife Partner status following a major social and environmental audit. Khiri Travel is the first in both Indonesia and Laos to earn Travelife Partner status.

    Travelife certification for tour operators and travel agents comes in three rising stages: Engaged, Partner, and Certified. Khiri Travel Indonesia and Laos are two-thirds of the way to full certification. Khiri Travel Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam achieved full Travelife Certification in 2015.

    Travelife is a leading training, management and certification initiative for tourism companies that are committed to sustainability. Travelife was founded with the support of ABTA in the UK and ANVR in the Netherlands in 2007 as a thorough responsible tourism certification scheme for tour operators and hotels.

    Richard Brouwer, CEO of Khiri Travel, said: “Travelife Partner status shows a great pioneering spirit and dedication by the Khiri teams in Indonesia and Laos. Khiri Travel is committed to measurable sustainability because it boosts customer satisfaction, staff motivation and business efficiency. Khiri Laos and Indonesia will keep working towards full Travelife Certification.”

    Naut Kusters, General Manager for Tour Operators and Travel Agents for Travelife said: “Khiri Travel in Indonesia and Laos are on the right path. Sustainability management is about commitment and consistent sustainable business practices. This includes a tour operator’s products, how they monitor and manage their impacts, and how they support their suppliers on their road to sustainability. I expect that the lead of Khiri will be an incentive for other companies to join the route towards sustainability.”

    The three-stage Travelife process acknowledges OECD corporate social responsibility guidelines including labor conditions, human rights, environmental responsibilities, biodiversity and fair business practices.

    The Travelife standard for tour operators is also formally recognized by the UN-supported Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC).

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  • Indonesia’s Lion Air removed from EU air safety blacklist

    Indonesia’s Lion Air removed from EU air safety blacklist

    Indonesia’s Lion Air, a major buyer of Airbus and Boeing jets, was removed from the European Union’s air safety blacklist, the European Commission said in a statement on Thursday.

    That means Lion Air is no longer banned from flying in the 28-nation EU.

  • Citilink Adds Nine Flights for Ramadan

    Citilink Adds Nine Flights for Ramadan

    Citilink is set to add more flights in Holy Month Ramadan. “There will be at least 9 extra flights,” said Commerce Director of PT Citilink Indonesia, Hans Nugroho, on Thursday.

    Hans said that the flights will operate 7 days before and after Eid. The extra flights will cover routes to Padang, Yogyakarta, Medan, and Denpasar. “We will see if other routes are necessary,” he said.

    Finance Director of Citilink Indonesia, Mega Satria, said that the airline adds flights only on the existing routes. “It the routes are potential, we will add more routes,” she said.

    Morever, Hans added that a surge of passengers is a certain thing on Eid holiday, Therefore, extra flights is a bid to anticipate it. He underlined that tcket reservation has started to increase in number.

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  • Indonesia is favorite tourist destination for Australians

    Indonesia is favorite tourist destination for Australians

    Data obtained from the Australia Bureau of Statistics revealed that 105,500 Australians visit Indonesia every month, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya noted in a press statement received by us here on Monday.

    The minister said the figure showed that Indonesia was a favorite tourist destination for Australians.

    “The data, which was released a month ago, for the first time revealed that Indonesia was the most preferred tourist destination among Australians,” Arief noted.

    According to the bureau, earlier, most Australians visited New Zealand, with an average of 99,400 tourists per month.

    “This is certainly due to the visa-free policy extended to Australians visiting Indonesia,” the minister remarked, adding that the ministry along with the Foreign Ministry and the Indonesian Consulate General across Australia had promoted the policy in the country.

    The Indonesian tourism branding called Wonderful Indonesia has been promoted in several regions in Australia through various mass media, including social media.

    “Our international openness is assessed by the World Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index as one of the measurable values,” Arief stated.

    The minister believes that the statistical figures were accurate and can be used in tourism development programs.

    The minister said the 10 priority tourist destinations, especially the maritime tourist sites, have been drawing Australian visitors.

    Of the 10 tourist destinations, seven are maritime tourist sites: Tanjung Kelayang in Bangka Belitung, Tanjung Lesung in Banten, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara, Wakatobi in Southeast Sulawesi, Seribu Islands in Jakarta, and Morotai in North Maluku.

    The maritime tourist sites are divided into three main zones: coastal, underwater, and sea. The third one is an inter-island tourist zone that can be explored by yacht.

    “Most of the Australian tourists prefer tourist sites in the coastal zone, with waves ideal for surfing. We have several new surfing spots in Banyuwangi, Mentawai, and Nias,” Arief added.

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  • Indonesian weekend event in London successfully promotes tourism

    Indonesian weekend event in London successfully promotes tourism

    A two-day tourism event called “Indonesian Weekend” held in Potters Fields Park, London, Great Britain, on May 28 to 29 was considered successful in promoting the Wonderful Indonesia brand, an official stated.

    The Indonesian Weekend was part of the Wonderful Indonesia brand awareness campaign, Nia Niscaya, assistant to a deputy in the tourism ministry, noted here, Monday.

    Garuda Indonesia Airways also supported the event and offered special fares on certain routes, such as London-Jakarta, Yogyakarta, and Lombok.

    The ministry has always participated in the World Travel Mart, which is routinely held in London in November, according to Niscaya.

    The number of British tourists to Indonesia reached 230,315 in 2014 and increased to some 270 thousand in 2015.

    This year, Indonesia hopes to attract 300 thousand British visitors.

    During the January-March 2016 period, the country received a total of 67,750 British tourists, or an increase of 28.54 percent from 52,708 tourists during the same period last year.

    Niscaya was optimistic that this years target would be achieved through the promotion of the Bali and Beyond tourism program.

    Ambassador of Indonesia to the United Kingdom Rizal Sukma officially kicked off the Indonesian Weekend showcasing the countrys arts and culture, here, Saturday.

    Highlights of the event included performances of Javanese dances by famous artist Ninik Thowok, Silat traditional martial art by Cecep Arif Rahman, traditional bamboo musical instrument by Arumba Saung Udjo, East Nusa Tenggara traditional music instrument Sasando by Ivan Nestorman, Javanese gong ensemble gamelan by Lila Bhawa, and an Islamic fashion show.

    The festival also offered Indonesian culinary delicacies as well as handicraft and fashion products.

    Initiated by Bangga Indonesia Ltd and Ditali Cipta Kreatif, the event is supported by Elzatta Hijab, the tourism ministry, and the Indonesian embassy in London.

    Other sponsors were the industry ministry, cooperatives and SMEs ministry, and the education and culture ministry in cooperation with the regional administrations of Central Java, Central Kalimantan, Bandung, and Malang.

    Some of the Indonesian culinary dishes offered during the event were Soto Ayam (chicken soup), chicken and lamb satay, Padang satay, Bakso (meat ball soup), Somai, Rendang, and Yogya Gudeng.

    A cooking demonstration featuring Master-Chef Indonesias jury, Degan Septoadji, and Chef Gede Susila Yadnya of Balis Potato Head Club Bali was also the highlight of the tourism promotion event.