REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BEIJING - Indonesian government targets 800,000 to 900,000 foreign tourists from China in 2013. Minister of Tourism and Economic Creative, Mari Elka Pagesto, said government tried to increase the number of foreign tourists, including from China.

"Our target in 2013 is nine million foreign tourists," she said optimistically on Tuesday. The target is 25 percent higher from the previous year.

Government has provided several direct flights from Indonesia to several cities in China, such as from Jakarta - Beijing, Jakarta - Shanghai and Jakarta - Guangzhou. The government also provide Mandarin Chinese language lesson for guides.

Pangestu said that government offered some special packages for Chinese tourists during their holiday, such as Chinese New Year, Chinese National Day and during school holiday in China.

To promote other cities in Indonesia, government develops 16 new destinations. "We are drafting action program for the next three years to enhance marine tourism, particularly diving, sport travel, cruise tourism," she said.

The 16 new destinations cover Medan-Toba for geological tourism, Kepulauan Seribu for marine tourism, Jakarta for cultural heritage, Bromo-Tengger-Semeru for ecological tourism, Kintamani-Batur Lake for geological tourism, Borobudur for cultural heritage, Menjangan-Pemuteran for marine tourism, Kuta-Sanur-Nusa Dua also for marine tourism, Rinjani for ecological tourism, Komodo for ecological tourism, Ende-Kelimutu for ecological tourism, Tanjung Puting for ecological tourism, Toraja for cultural heritage, Bunaken for marine tourism, Wakatobi and Raja Ampat also for marine tourism. 

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