Indonesia set to attract more tourists from Aussie

TOURISM - JAKARTA. The Tourism Ministry together with Southwest Indonesia Community (SIC) is set to hold an event named Wonderful Indonesia Getaway 2017 on Nov. 4 at Art Geo Cultural Complex, Queen Street Busselton, Western Australia.

SIC is an organization of Indonesian people who live in the southwest part of Australia.

“The event aims to promote Wonderful Indonesia to the people of Western Australia,” said the ministry's deputy minister for overseas promotion I Gde Pitana.

“We will showcase art, dance, theater and music performances as well as [Indonesian] culinary,” he added.

The event will start at 11 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. and will feature activities and shows such as Harmony Parade, travel expo, handicraft exhibition, fun games, music and dance performances, face painting, food bazaar and fashion show.

Some important guests that are set to attend are Western Australia Tourism Ministry Hon. Paul Papalia, Indonesian Consul General Ade Padmo, Busselton Mayor Grant Henley and a member of Vasse Parliament.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said that Wonderful Indonesia Getaway 2017 aims to fulfill the ministry’s target of attracting 15 million foreign tourists in 2017 and 20 million foreign tourists in 2019.

“Australia has been growing really great. The [market] size is huge and it’s also close with our country,” said Arief.

Geographically speaking, Australia isn’t really that far from Bali. The country has even taken over Malaysia’s position for the number of outbound tourists who come to Indonesia as it is currently in the third spot right after China and Singapore. 

This year, the ministry aims to welcome 1.8 million Australians to Indonesia.