VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia logged total transactions amounting to Rp13.8 billion during the Sales Mission Adventure held in Violet Oon, Clarke Quay, Singapore, on May 8.

Assistant Deputy for Market Development Region I of the Tourism Ministry Dessy Ruhati said here on Thursday that Indonesia's participation in the event is important to promote the country's adventure tourism potential.

"Indonesia has more than 100 remarkable destinations for adventure tourism, which can turn Indonesia into a world class adventure tourism destination," Ruhati said.

At the event, the ministry facilitated 11 industries in accommodation, travel agents/tour operators, as well as operators of special tours from North Sumatra, South Sumatra, West Java, Jakarta, Banten, Yogyakarta and Bali.

During the event, they met 31 buyers from Singapore who wanted to bring Singaporean adventure tourists to Indonesia.

"Each year, some 100 thousand adventure tourists from all over the world visit Indonesia. According to the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), the tourists spend 67 percent of their money in destination areas. This has shown that adventure tourism has played a significant role in improving the economy of the local people," she elaborated.

Ruhati saw the event as an effective opportunity to match Indonesian sellers and buyers in Singapore.

"The event was designed with table top or B-to-B with a mingle concept, as this concept would be far more effective to reach the target of tourist visits," she added.

Singapore was chosen as a location for the sales mission considering that it has become the main market for foreign tourists to Indonesia, especially from ASEAN countries.

The number of foreign tourists from Singapore visiting Indonesia in 2018 (January-December) reached 1.7 million, or an increase of 16 percent compared to 1.5 million tourists in 2017.

Indonesia, she said, could benefit from its proximity to Singapore. As the two countries have two cross borders in Batam and Bintan, Singapore could become the best international hub to be explored.

"In 2019, the Tourism Ministry has targeted to attract 2.12 million foreign tourists from Singapore out of the total target of 20 million foreign tourists. Therefore, we should be more active in exploring the Singapore market," she said.  (ant)