Belitung visitors up 300 percent after Laskar Pelangi aired

Tourism and Creative Industry Minister Mari Elka Pangestu says the number of tourists visiting Belitung in Riau Island increased by up to 300 percent since the location was used as a location in a film titled Laskar Pelangi (the Rainbow Guardian).

“Movies are a powerful medium in promoting a location,” she said on Thursday, as quoted by kompas.com.

She said that Indonesia, this year, had been visited by 99 foreign film producers looking to film in the country.

Mari cited by way of example the movie Eat, Pray, Love that was shot in Ubud, Bali. Many tourists came to Bali to experience the same feelings as Elizabeth Gilbert, a character played by Julia Roberts in that movie.

She said that the ministry would use three movies filmed in Indonesia, including Philosopher, Java Hits and Alex Cross, as tools for tourism promotion.

Mari added Bali would host the ASEAN Film Festival on Nov.16-17, featuring movies from 10 ASEAN countries.