Ulun Danu Temple complex, one of the famous destinations in Bali resort island, Indonesia. (Source: indonesiatravel.com)Singapore (VNA) - “Wonderful Indonesia” campaign, a new tourism development strategy designed to grasp opportunities from the ASEAN Community establishment, was introduced to international friends at a programme held by the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism in Singapore on November 17.
According to Honorary Advisor to Minister of Tourism Indroyono Soesilo, Indonesia’s tourism industry plans to set aside 95 million USD, tripling the 2014 budget, to attract holiday-makers.
He said the move looks to revive the country’s stagnant economy that is being affected by rupiah devaluation and global recession.
The country eyes to welcome 20 million tourists by 2019, doubling the figure expected for 2015, Soesilo said.
He added that visa exemption provided for people from 90 countries and territories, including the ASEAN nations, will serve as a momentum to lure more foreign tourists to the country.
ASEAN is now Indonesia’s key tourism market, accounting for 40 percent of international travellers to the country. The Tourism Ministry will use half of the budget for tourism popularisation in ASEAN while planning to collaborate with neibouring countries, including Vietnam, to build a regional tourism programme.
Indonesia is giving a push to the formation of Buddhist pilgrimage tourism, connecting Brobudur (Indonesia) - the world largest Buddhist temple, Angkor Wat temple (Cambodia) and similar destinations in Vietnam.-VNA
