TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Tourism Ministry and the China National Tourism Administration have agreed to check certain tourism operators who are unprofessional and harm tourists interests.

"We are ready to blacklist such operators since tourism is a service-based business. Managing the tourism business ecosystem with a sense of commitment and professionalism is crucial. What is at stake is to keep the tourism business sustainable," Indonesian Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said at a meeting with the Chief of the China National Tourism Administration, Lin Jinzao, on the sidelines of the China International Travel Market (CITM) held in Shanghai from November 11 to 13.

Travel operators and agents who violate commitment made to their customers must be dealt with sternly, he stated, adding that unprofessional tourism operators will have a detrimental impact on the future of the tourism sector.

The China National Tourism Administration has taken several steps to control such unprofessional elements, including travel agents, as part of the efforts to make tourists feel comfortable while on vacation in China, he noted.

"First of all, we express our gratitude to China as more and more Chinese tourists visit Indonesia," he underlined.

China is now the biggest source of tourist arrivals in Indonesia, overtaking Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Japan and South Korea.

"We have set ourselves the target of attracting 20 million tourists in 2019 and nearly 50 percent of them will come from China," he disclosed.

In this regard, he underscored the importance of stepping up tourism cooperation with China to achieve the target.

In addition, he pointed out that his ministry will also focus on promoting the "Great China" branding which covers China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

He also invited Chinese investors to invest in the Indonesian tourism industry.

"We invite Chinese investors engaged in the tourism sector to invest in Indonesia which offers natural and cultural attractions. Now is the time to make long-term investments in the tourism sector," he observed.

ANTARA