VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

At least 57 domestic and foreign tour package buyers who attended the 6th Bali and Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) in Nusa Dua, Bali, on June 25-29, 2019 explored tourist sites in Indonesia's province of Maluku.

The head of the Maluku Tourism Office, Habiba Saimima, said in Maluku's provincial capital of Ambon, on Tuesday that 57 tour package buyers consisted of 12 people from China, 10 from India and Australia each, eight from the Netherlands, five from Malaysia, three from Singapore, two from France, and seven from Indonesia.

"The transaction that will be realized is predicted to reach Rp53 billion," she said.

However, according to Habiba, the buyers of tour packages require a decrease in the price of airline tickets.

"Thankfully the government has facilitated the reduction in airplane tickets which indeed affects arrivals of tourists, especially foreigners to Maluku," she said.

She pointed out that Maluku's involvement in the 6th BBTF was for the first time to promote Maluku's tourism to foreign markets.

Maluku at the event promoted a leading destination of North Seram, Central Maluku District which was part of the Sawai Bay marine conservation area and Manusela national park.

The provincial administration also promoted the Banda destination in Central Maluku District, which includes the marine conservation area of Ai and Run islands, and the Kei Islands that includes the Kei sea area in Southeast Maluku District.

"So the three destinations are reflected in the Maluku tourism booth wall representing North Seram, diving hammer shark in Banda and Ngurtavur beach on the Kei Islands," Habiba said.

She said this Maluku tourism promotion was part of Governor Murad Ismail's work and Deputy Governor Barnabas Orno's program.

"We also take part in the Nusantara Tourism and Culture Festival at the JCC (Jakarta Convention Center), Jakarta on June 27-30, 2019 by promoting the 2019 tourism event calendar of Maluku specialty handicrafts, tuna skipjack, eucalyptus oil, woven fabrics and Banda tour packages, Ora beach, Kei tourism and Ambon," Habiba said.

On the promotion abroad, she explained, Maluku attended diving resort travel in Guangzhou, China on June 27 - July 1, 2019, where visitors were interested in visiting Banda.

"I received a report that at this international event until June 28, 2019 there was a transaction of Rp106.80 million," Habiba noted. (ANTARA)