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Tourism ministry holds Sparkling Sumatra 2017 event in Batam
Indonesia is targeting to welcome 275 million domestic tourists and 20 million overseas tourists by 2019.
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A pink sunrise on a beach at Batam. (Shutterstock/File)
T
he tourism ministry together with Inke Maris & Associates is holding an event called Sparkling Sumatra 2017 on Oct. 27 – 28 at the atrium of Kepri Mall, Batam. With the main theme of "Sumatra Golden Island Charm", the event is a tourism promotional exhibition joined by travel agents that offers tour packages, souvenirs and others.
Travel Agency Meetings and Table Top Meetings between provincial and regional travel agents are also part of the Sparkling Sumatra 2017. Visitors are also entertained by singer Budi Doremi.
Indonesia is targeting to welcome 275 million domestic tourists and 20 million overseas tourists by 2019.
“The aim of Sparkling Sumatra event is to increase the number of tourist visits, both domestic and international tourists, and to prepare [the tourist destinations] to welcome them,” explained the ministry's archipelago tourism marketing development deputy, Esthy Reko Astuti.
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Esthy added that the event also aimed to improve the positive image of Indonesia as a tourist destination. “If the number of tourist visits increases it will have a direct impact on the locals, especially in Sumatra,” Esthy added.
According to the ministry's head of cultural promotion Wawan Gunawan, traveling has become a part of lifestyle among foreigners and Indonesians, with some travelers even admitting that traveling has become a necessity for them.
“The increasing trend in traveling is a huge market for tourism to continue its development and always at the ready to welcome tourists,” said Wawan. (asw)
