Indonesia Making Efforts to Develop Tourism Branding at ITB Berlin

Berlin (Antara Bali)- The Indonesian tourism ministry is working towards developing its branding while participating in the International Tourism Bourse (ITB) Berlin.

In addition to advertising and promoting "Wonderful Indonesia," the ministry was also building a branding, Nia Niscaya, assistant to the tourism minister's deputy in charge of the marketing development for Europe, Middle East, and Africa, informed Antara on Wednesday.

Indonesia has placed numerous ads to integrate the various aspects of selling, advertising, and branding building, she revealed.

Several pictures of the country's scenic locations were on display during the ITB Berlin being held from March 9 to 13 this year.

The Indonesian delegation also held a press conference attended by some 100 journalists.

Indonesia has set a target of attracting 12 million tourists this year and 20 million by 2019. In 2014, the country received a total of 9.4 million foreign tourists.

The tourism industry's contribution, constituting nine percent to the country's economy in 2014, is expected to increase by 15 percent by 2019.

The country's Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) is expected to improve from 70th rank in 2014 to 30th in 2019.

Indonesian Ambassador to Germany Fauzi Bowo explained that the government had relaxed several bureaucratic procedures in tourism-related businesses in order to attract tourists and investors.

The government has offered visa-free facilities to tourists from 75 countries and has eased permits for entry of foreign yachts into Indonesia.

The envoy cited as an example that since January this year, five foreign yachts had docked at Sabang harbor, which is quite small, remote, and some 1.9 thousand kilometers from Jakarta.

As many as 10 thousand exhibitors from 187 countries are showcasing the latest products and trends related to the global tourism industry on 1,069 stands.

The organizers hope to draw some 100 thousand international trade visitors, and public attendance is expected to reach tens of thousands on the weekend.

The ITB Buyers Circle gathers travel buyers from Europe, Asia, America, Africa, and Australia, more than 40 percent of whom conduct business to the tune of some 50 million euros each. (WDY)