REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia and Russia have the potential to cooperate in joint tourism, which could be increased through better promotion, according to Russian Ambassador for Indonesia Mikhail Galuzin.
"We have future opportunities for cooperation in the tourism field. We are keen to continue to broaden exchanges of tourists in Indonesia and Russia," Mikhail said here, Monday.
The Ambassador noted that the total Russian tourists visiting Indonesia remains lower than Russians visiting Thailand.
He said total tourists coming to Thailand in recent year has reached 1.5 million Russians per year, while those coming to Bali is around 100,000 visitors.
"This is why we always invite Indonesian tourism companies to participate in international tourism fairs in Russia, including the inter-market fair which is held every year in Moscow," Mikhail said.
He said he expected, by participating in the fair, that tourism organizers could promote Indonesian tourist locations among potential Russian consumers.
"At the same time, we also mark that there are more Indonesian people visiting foreign countries as tourists. We do believe Russia can be, and is one of, the attractive destinations for Indonesian tourists to visit," Mikhail said.
He said by increasing the total tourists coming to Indonesia, the number of flights to Indonesia would also be increased.
"If the exchange of tourists increases, then there is more opportunity for establishing commercial flights between Moscow to Jakarta or between Russia's areas to Bali Island," said the Ambassador, who also serves as Permanent Representative of Russia to ASEAN.
He noted that Indonesia has many tourism locations to be promoted, which could attract Russian tourists to visit Indonesia.
"Indonesia has many beautiful tourism areas, such as Lombok Island, Komodo Island, Borobudur Temple, Toba Lake and many other beautiful tourist attractions," the Ambassador said, adding that he hopes that the flow of tourists from Russia to Indonesia and Indonesia to Russia would improve in the years to come.
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