VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Welcoming the grand event of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra, as well as parts of West Java, the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism is increasingly aggressively promoting Indonesian tourism in various ways.  One of them is through cooperation with several industries and tourism association actors in various regions by preparing more than 70 tour packages with seven leading destinations. The seven leading destinations are Jakarta, West Java, South Sumatra, Central Java, Yogyakarta, Banyuwangi, and Bali. According to Deputy Minister of Tourism for Marketing and Tourism Cooperation, I Gde Pitana, in Jakarta, recently, Komodo, Raja Ampat, and Manado which are also included in Indonesia's leading tourist destinations, were not included in the tour package, because of the distance from the Asian Games venue. // Therefore, the ministry only makes promotions to make tourists know and want to visit Komodo, Raja Ampat and Manado in the future.

"Because according to our discussion with the industry, the travelers, it seems that it will be difficult to invite tourists who come to Palembang, and to Jakarta to see the Asian Games to be drawn directly to Komodo. But we hope that they will soon know about Komodo dragons or Raja Ampat, or Manado when they watch the Asian Games, so they will be more aware,” I Gde Putana said.

Related to the 2018 Asian Games tour package, I Gde Pitana predicted sports tourists such as athletes, officials, supporters are around 24,000 people from 45 participating countries. He said the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism only facilitates travel agents under the Association of Tour Agents and Indonesian Travel in designing the tour.(VOI/Rezha/AHM)