Indonesia to Promote Diving Tourism to Japan Tourists

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Indonesia will promote its world-class diving sites to Japanese tourists during a tourism promotion event entitled "Diving Sales Mission", to be held in Japan on October 8 and 9, 2015.

The promotion is to be held following a successful similar event, carried out in Beijing on Sept. 9, I Gde Pitana, the deputy for international marketing development of the tourism ministry, said here on Saturday.

The government anticipates that revenues from diving tourism could be increased four times from the current amount, according to Pitana.

The promotion event is part of the tourism ministrys tourism marketing strategies, which include branding, advertising and selling (BAS), that was launched by Tourism Minister Arief Yahya.

"The sale event is an effort of the tourism ministry to attract 529 thousand Japanese tourists," he noted.

In line with presidential regulation No. 69 Year 2015, the Indonesian government now offers visa free entry to Japanese citizens visiting Indonesia.

"The tourism ministry has set a target of attracting some 10 million foreign tourists in 2015," he remarked.

Indonesia has a large potential for diving tourism, with excellent diving spots spreading from Weh Island in the countrys western most province of Aceh to Raja Ampat isles located in the countrys eastern most province of West Papua.

Between these two tourist destinations, there are other exotic diving sites located in Banda Island (Maluku), Bunaken (North Sulawesi), Wakatobi (Southeast Sulawesi), Lembeh Strait, Alor Isle, TogeBetwan, Gili Air, Komodo Island (East Nusa Tenggara), and Cendrawasih Bay.

Among the worlds best diving spots to be found in Indonesia are those in Raja Ampat, Komodo Isle, Derawan, Togean, Wakatobi, Gilir Air and Bunaken.

Deputy Assistant for Asia and the Pacific Market Development of the tourism ministry Vinsensius Jemadu said some 35 percent of the total earnings from the tourism industry comes from maritime tourism.

Further, an estimated 35 percent of Japanese tourists visiting Indonesia were engaged in maritime-related activities, such as diving.

At least seven representatives selling tourism packages will join the Diving Sale Mission to Japan.

According to a Japanese travel agent, Travelco, Bali is one of the top ten tourism destinations for Japanese tourists.

Indonesia is in the fifth most popular destination for the Japanese, after Seoul (South Korea), Guam, Taipei (Taiwan), and Honolulu (Hawaii). (WDY)