Despite failing to meet the tourist arrival target last year, the government said it is optimistic about reaching the targeted seven million tourists for this year's Visit Indonesia Year program.
Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said the government also wants some US$6.7 billion in foreign exchange revenue.
Last year, around 5.5 million overseas visitors entered Indonesia, generating around US$5.3 billion in foreign exchange income.
But the number of travelers was 500,000 short of the target.
Jero said efforts to reach this year's target included intensified cooperation with domestic and foreign agencies, integrated plans on the development of infrastructure in tourism destinations and better coordination among relevant ministries.
"During a travel gathering recently, some 1,500 overseas tourism operators showed their interest in helping promote Indonesia," he said.
Jero said his ministry was also working on a proposal to process free visas for short visits for travelers from Japan, Australia, South Korea, China, United Kingdom, German, France, the Netherlands, Russia and India.
Under a cooperation with the ministry of state enterprises, service facilities would be boosted at least in the country's two main airports -- Bali's Ngurah Rai and Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta.
Immigration counters would be increased, along with public toilet facilities and waiting rooms.
In the two airports, information boards would be erected in foreign languages including Arabic, Japanese and Mandarin. And illegal taxis will be abolished, Jero said.
The government is set to encourage foreign and domestic airlines to fly to tourist destinations in Indonesia, while at the same time improving air safety standards.
Efforts would continue toward allowing Indonesian airplanes to travel to Europe.
Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal said the EU which banned Indonesian airplanes to fly to Europe on a flight safety reason, was scheduled to hold a conference on safety standards in Bandung, West Java, in the next two months.
"The conference is aimed to bridge the gap between EU and Indonesia about the flight banning," Jusman said. "Hopefully, it will help settling the case."
In line with the visit Indonesia program, Jero asked heads of local administrations for their support, asking them to "be friendly" and to maintain sound office environments.
The government said it has set aside a US$15 million budget for promoting the program throughout the year.
"With hard work and help from all parties, I believe we can achieve the challenging seven million target," Jero said.
"Moreover, it's just another 1.5 million to go from last year's number." (nkn)
