DIVING TOURISM TO BECOME PRIMA DONNA OF INDONESIA'S TOURISM by Fardah

 Jakarta, Oct 4, 2015 (Antara)- Indonesia, the world's largest archipelagic nation, has a large potential for diving tourism, with excellent diving spots spreading from Weh Island in the country's western most province of Aceh to Raja Ampat isles located in the country's eastern most province of West Papua.

        Between these two tourist destinations, there are other exotic diving sites located in Banda Island (Maluku), Bunaken (North Sulawesi), Wakatobi (Southeast Sulawesi), Lembeh Strait (North Sulawesi), Alor Isle (East Nusa Tenggara), Togean (Central Sulawesi), Gili Air (West Nusa Tenggara), Komodo Island (East Nusa Tenggara), and Cendrawasih Bay (Papua Province).

         Among the world's best diving spots to be found in Indonesia are those in Raja Ampat, Komodo Isle, Derawan (East Kalimantan), Togean, Wakatobi, Gilir Air and Bunaken (North Sulawesi).

        Indonesia has been promoting its world-class diving spots internationally in order to attract more tourists and meets its target of receiving some 10 million foreign tourists in 2015.    

  This year, the tourism ministry organized a tourism promotion event entitled "Diving Sales Mission" in Beijing, China, on Sept. 9. 
   Following the successful implementation of the event, Indonesia is going to have a similar promotion in Japan on October 8 and 9, 2015.

        The promotion event is part of the tourism ministry's tourism marketing strategies, which include branding, advertising and selling (BAS), that was launched by Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, according to I Gde Pitana, the deputy for international marketing development of the tourism ministry.

        "The sale event is an effort of the tourism ministry to attract 529 thousand Japanese tourists," he noted.  
   At least seven representatives selling tourism packages will join the Diving Sale Mission to Japan.

       In line with presidential regulation No. 69 Year 2015, the Indonesian government now offers visa free entry to Japanese citizens visiting Indonesia.

        According to a Japanese travel agent, Travelco, Bali is one of the top ten tourism destinations for Japanese tourists.    
   Further, an estimated 35 percent of Japanese tourists visiting Indonesia were engaged in maritime-related activities, such as diving.

        Indonesia is in the fifth most popular destination for the Japanese, after Seoul (South Korea), Guam, Taipei (Taiwan), and Honolulu (Hawaii). 
   Pitana said the government anticipates that revenues from diving tourism could be increased four times from the current amount.

        "The tourism ministry has set a target of attracting some 10 million foreign tourists in 2015," he remarked.

        The tourism ministry has allocated Rp3.25 trillion for promoting tourism internationally.

        "Next year, we will post branding in various international media," I Gde Pitana said.

         The tourism promotion budget has been approved by the parliament, and 50 percent of the funds are to be used for promoting the Indonesian tourism brand.

        Indonesia's current tourism brand campaign focuses on the theme "Wonderful Indonesia".

        "We have to work seriously on our branding of Wonderful Indonesia. A brand will be accepted positively if it is communicated to the public incessantly," he noted.

         Deputy Assistant for Asia and the Pacific Market Development of the tourism ministry Vinsensius Jemadu said some 35 percent of the total earnings from the tourism industry comes from maritime tourism.   
    Indonesia has intensified marine tourism promotion and set a target to earn US$4 billion from marine tourism this year.

        In the meantime, there is good news for marine lovers.  Indonesian shipping company PT Pelni is offering maritime tourism tours to guests to sail to Raja Ampat in West Papua and Wakatobi in Southeast Sulawesi.

         As part of the tour from October 29 to November 1, the guests will sail onboard MV Tatamailu to Raja Ampat, Akhmad Sujadi, a spokesman of Pelni, said in a press statement, recently.

         For the Wakaboti tour on November 15-19, the company will use MV Kelimutu.

          Sorong Aiport will be the starting point for the Raja Ampat sail tour, while for the Wakatobi tour, the guests will commence their journey at Baubau seaport.

            For the Raja Ampat tour, the ship will stop in Mansuar on the first day, so that the tourists could indulge in diving and snorkeling activities at the white sandy beach.

          Later, the ship will proceed to Yanbuba, another charming diving spot in West Papua.

           "Tourists would be able to enjoy the beautiful underwater panorama in Yanbuba," he remarked.

          The ship will also stop in Melissa Garden and Anita diving and snorkeling spots.

         Other tourism sites to be visited include Piayianemo Hill where the tourists can enjoy the entire view of the Raja Ampat isles, Kapisawar to enjoy the chirping of the Papuan birds, the Manta Point diving spot, Aborek traditional village, Holgan isle, and a bat cave.

          The tour package to Raja Ampat will cost Rp6.9 million per person for executive class, Rp5.5 million for second class, and Rp4.4 million for budget class. The fare includes the cost of meals, snacks, speedboat, insurance, tax, and tourist guides. A US dollar equals to around Rp14,470.

          To participate in diving activities, the tourists will have to bear an addition cost of Rp1.4 million per person for the diving equipment and Rp250 thousand for snorkeling. 
     The Wakatobi sailing tour to be held on November 15-19 will start from Baubau seaport and proceed to Tomiang, Hoga, and Wanci isles.

        The legendary Jacques-Yves Cousteau,  the French pioneering explorer of the seas, is said to have called the Wakatobi islands in Southeast Sulawesi Province, an underwater Nirwana.

         He also described the district as the finest diving site in the world.

         Located right in the heart of the Asia-Pacific Coral Triangle, the Wakatobi Islands which have been designated as a national marine park, offer crystal clear pristine waters and a rich biodiversity of underwater life, a true paradise for divers.

        Wakatobi is known for having the highest number of reef and fish species in the world.

        The tour package to Wakatobi will cost Rp4.75 million for first class, Rp4.25 million for second class, and Rp3.75 million for budget class.

          For registration and further information, calls can be made to the customer care center of Pelni at 021-162. ***1***
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(T.F001/A/F. Assegaf/Suharto) 04-10-2015 21:56:43