Indonesia Seeks Middle Eastern Tourists

Tourism Minister Arief yahya — Tourism Minister Arief Yahya

Jakarta, 22 Jumadil Awal 1437/1 March 2016 (MINA) – Indonesia is gearing up to woo more tourists from the Middle East countries by participating in the Riyadh Travel Show (RTS) from April 12 to 15.

“We will promote Lombok, which has been the winner of the Halal Destination 2015 to the RTS,” Minister of Tourism Arief Yahya said here Monday, Antara News Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia, is one of the biggest tourism markets of which a tourist could spend around US$1,750 per visit, the minister said.

Meanwhile, the government had met 260 buyers from the Saudi Arabia and they will discuss more their tourist interests in April, Deputy of International Marketing of the Ministry of Tourism I Gde Pitana said.

“We keep working on the Saudi Arabian market with tourism promotion,” Pitana said, and added that the countrys participation in the RTS was one of the promotion strategies to penetrate the Middle East market.

Not only Lombok Island, but other main tourist destinations of Indonesia will also be available at the exhibition.

The Great Jakarta package was considered the most preferable tourism package by Saudi Arabian tourists.

“The main target is the Great Jakarta, within which they offer Puncak, Bandung and it is combined with the halal tourism in Lombok,” Pitana said. (T/P010/R07)

Miraj Islamic News Agency (MINA)