Indonesia reaches out to Indian travellers
Indonesia hopes to boost arrivals from India in 2012 to 180,000, up from 168,122 in 2011.
Speaking at the Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings (IT&CM) 2012 in Delhi, Gde Pitana, Deputy Minister for Resource Development, Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, said that Indonesia hoped the much delayed direct flights between the two countries would start soon but added that even now there were convenient connections from Singapore and Malaysia.
He also noted that for the MICE market, it was important to have pre and post conference activities and for spouses, an area of strength for Indonesia, with possibility of Batik art courses and enjoying night life, while hot air balloon rides over the Borobudur temples are becoming a very popular MICE activity.
The country has 150 golf courses, popular among Japanese visitors, and as many as 10 destinations with solid MICE infrastructure.