Indonesia to Take Part in Beijing Tourism Expo

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The Indonesian government will participate in the Beijing International Tourism Expo (BITE) to be held on May 20-22 to realize its target of attracting two million Chinese tourists this year.

The Indonesian Tourism Ministry would be one of the main sponsors of the expo, Deputy Tourism Minister in charge of International Tourism Marketing Development I Gede Pitana stated here, Friday.

The ministry was optimistic that Indonesia would be able to attract Chinese tourists during the long holiday from October 1 to 7 this year, he noted.

China has become Indonesia's main tourist contributor, according to Tourism Minister Arief Yahya.

Last year, some 987 participants from 81 countries took part in BITE, which was visited by some 120 thousand people.

BITE has been organized annually for the past 13 years, and Indonesia has taken part in the expo twice.

Other countries expected to participate in BITE this year are the United States, the Maldives, Seychelles, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, India, and some European countries, among others.

Indonesia has set a target of attracting 20 million foreign tourists by 2019, from 9.7 million last year.

This year, Indonesia hopes to lure some 12 million foreign tourists. (WDY)