Indonesia Promotes Tourism in Serbia

Belgrade (Antara Bali) - A total of 11 Indonesian tourism operators have cooperated with their Serbian counterparts in promoting Indonesian tourism in Belgrade.

"We have met and discussed a lot of things with our tourism industry partners in Serbia," Corporate Director of Sales and Marketing of PT Hotel Indonesia Natour (INNA Hotel Group), Ngurah Paramartha told Antara at the Indonesian pavilion here on Saturday.

Indonesia is an organizing partner of the 36th International Fair of Tourism (IFT) which was held at Belgrade's Exhibition Hall. The expo is attended by 900 participants from 42 countries and has been visited by 60,000 visitors.

Ngurah Paramartha said that during the exposition, the INNA held a number of meetings with several tourism industries which were interested in establishing cooperation with Indonesia. They particularly came from major travel agencies in Serbia.

Serbia has market potential for Indonesia, though there is a small problem with limited flight frequencies. Luckily Qatar and Ethia airlines had opened flights to Indonesia.

The INNA director said Indonesian Ambassador to Serbia Semuel Simon had made a successful effort to make Indonesia a partner in the organization of the Serbian expo.

Ngurah said Thailand which had not representatives in that country was able to attract eight thousand tourists from Serbia while Indonesia could attract ones only less than four thousand tourists.

"The number of Serbian tourists visiting Indonesia can be bigger than those arriving in Thailand if there are direct flights from that country to Indonesia," Ngurah said. (*/DWA)