TEMPO.CO, Bandung - The 60th anniversary of the Asian-African Conference in Bandung is attracting a huge number of crowds both from in and out of town. Bandung's head of culture and tourism office Herlan J.S. said the city will welcome some 5,000 domestic and foreign tourists during the event.

"Hopefully this event can serve as a gateway for Bandung to become a city of tourism," he said.

Last year, he said, Bandung was visited by about 5.9 million tourists. Every year the city sees a five-percent increase in the number of tourist visits.

Herlan is confident the percentage will rise over to 15 percent next year now that the city has added public spaces in advance of the AAC.

Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil has prepared five major events expected to pool in tourists to celebrate the bi-continental gathering. The events will be held daily from April 22 to 25.

In April, 1955, 29 Asian and African country leaders gathered in Bandung for what then President Soekarno said to be the first "intercontinental conference of colored people, so-called colored people, in the history of mankind" to discuss "upon matters of common concern."

This year, Indonesia hopes this week's conference will focus on Palestine's plight for freedom, with Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi saying Asian and African countries should be supporting the creation of a Palestinian state.

PERSIANA GALIH | RIRIE RANGGASARI