CHENNAI: With India and Indonesia sharing a strong cultural link and enthused over a sharp increase in visitors from India, Indonesia Tourism is considering wooing more visitors from Coimbatore and other cities in the state.
India has now become the sixth largest source market for Indonesia displacing South Korea. “India with the rise in aspiring middle class travellers and robust economic growth has become a potential contributor to the inbound tourism to Indonesia and in particular to Bali,” said Vinsensius Jemadu, Director for Asia Pacific Tourism Promotions, Ministry of Tourism, Indonesia.
Indonesia recorded a 21 per cent increase in Indian arrivals and during January to June this year it received around 2,00,000 Indian tourists making India the sixth largest source market. The total number of Indian arrivals to Bali has increased over 35 per cent every year in the past six years. “We are hopeful Indians will equally value Badung as their preferred destination in Indonesia,” Jemadu said.
Saut Siringoringo Consul-General of the Republic of Indonesia, Mumbai who is playing a proactive role in promoting tourism is involved in showcasing Indonesia in five cities in India, which is a strategic source market.
Indonesia, hopes to replicate its successful model in China to lure more Indian travellers. It is also looking forward to develop home stays in Indonesia besides enter into a tie-up with online Indian travel agencies to market the exotic destinations. Last week, Indonesia inaugurated Batik Air flight to Chennai and it plans to soon introduce another flight from Medan to Chennai. At present, the two countries are connected by Air Garuda and AirAsia.
Realising the importance of Indian market, Indonesian Tourism recently concluded its sales mission at Ahmedabad, Pune, Bengaluru, Coimbatore and Chandigarh.
