The Tourism Ministry is aiming to achieve a target of 13.5 million foreign tourist arrivals next year with the development and promotion of 10 priority tourist destinations.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said the government would next year focus on boosting the promotion of the priority destinations, which are Lake Toba, Belitung, Tanjung Lesung, Thousand Islands, Borobudur temple, Mount Bromo, Mandalika, Komodo Island, Wakatobi National Park and Morotai.

Lake Toba is seen from high land.(Shutterstock/-)

Arief was quoted by Kontan on Monday as saying that the government would boost promotions, especially in the four countries that provided the biggest contributions to Indonesian tourism. “Those countries are China, Singapore, Malaysia and Japan.”

According to Arief, in 2017, his ministry will receive a budget allocation of Rp 4.08 trillion, of which Rp 2.75 trillion will be used to promote tourism overseas.

The government has allocated Rp 100 trillion for the development of infrastructure and basic facilities in the destinations.

Arief said earlier that Indonesia needed an additional 120,000 hotel rooms, 15,000 restaurants, 100 recreational parks, 100 diving operators, 100 marinas and 100 special economic zones.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo expects tourism to contribute 15 percent to gross domestic product (GDP), generate foreign exchange of Rp 240 trillion and create jobs for 13 million people. (dmr)

A visitor enjoys the view of Mount Bromo in Probolinggo, East Java.(ANTARA FOTO/Zabur Karuru)