REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MATARAM -- The Ministry of Tourism is making efforts to boost the number of tourist arrivals from various Middle Eastern countries in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).

"West Nusa Tenggara is keen to attract tourists from the Middle East as they are looking for religious tourist sites that also have a natural charm, with adequate places of worship," Susanti, head of Tourism Travel Promotion of the Ministry of Tourism, stated here on Wednesday.

According to Susanti, West Nusa Tenggara is a Muslim-majority province, and therefore, the development of halal tourism is a priority.

West Nusa Tenggara has established itself as one of the top global halal tourist destinations by winning the World's Best Halal Honeymoon Destination and the World's Best Halal Tourism Destination awards on October 21, 2015.

"Non-Muslim majority countries, such as Thailand and Singapore, have been developing the concept of halal tourism," he pointed out.

Head of the Market Analysis Section of West Nusa Tenggara's Culture and Tourism Office Abdul Haris noted that the number of Middle Eastern tourists visiting the province had increased significantly.

According to Haris, this trend was due to the province winning the World's Best Halal Honeymoon Destination and the World's Best Halal Tourism Destination awards.

"The number of tourist arrivals from the Middle East in West Nusa Tenggara in 2015 increased approximately by 39 percent compared to the previous year. The tourists arrived from countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, while most of the ASEAN tourists visiting West Nusa Tenggara were from Malaysia," he added.

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