TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-I Gde Pitana, Deputi of Foreign Tourism Marketing Development of Tourism Ministry, has targeted 2.1 million of Chinese tourists visits in 2016. The number is higher than Singaporean and Malaysian tourist visits target of 2 million and 1.8 million.

“Chinese market is more interested in new destinations and new experiences,” Pitana said in a media gathering at the office of Tourism Ministry Jakarta, Monday, February 15, 2016.

Pitana said that he has made a strategy to introduce tourism in Chinese market, such as cooperation with Chinese online media. Other regions could be introduced as new destinations via online media. “All this time, they only know Bali and Jakarta. We want to introduce other regions.”

In addition, Tourism Ministry has also developed cooperation program with other countries y promoting ‘one package for two destinations’ program. For example, Pitana said, cooperation with Singapore travel agencies to bring tourists to Singapore before visiting Indonesia. “We have enough budget to implement it,” he said.

The government is also working closely with the media in the form of coverage, advertorial, advertisement and inviting foreign media to travel to Indonesia.

However, tour guides numbers for Chinese tourists are limited since not many could speak Mandarin. Tourism Ministry plans to hold training and give certification to Mandarin speaking tour guides. “We are targeting at least 1000 Mandarin speaking tour guides to be certified this year,” said Pitana.

The Tourism Ministry is hoping to achieve 12 million of foreign tourist visits in 2016. The target is in line with 20 million of foreign tourist visits target set for 2019. Last year, Singapore could reach 16 million, Malaysia 26 million and Thailand 28 million. “Indonesia should be able to reach 20 million because Indonesia has more potential," said Pitana.

ARKHELAUS WISNU