JAKARTA: Despite the sour episode in Malaysia-Indonesia relationship last year, especially with the anti-Malaysia sentiments in Indonesia, a total of 2.5 million Indonesian tourists were recorded to have visited Malaysia in 2010.
Tourism Malaysia director in Indonesia Jamil Darus said the number of Indonesian tourist arrivals in Malaysia had not only reached the target, but also had increased from the 2.4 million arrivals recorded in 2009.
Hence, he said Tourism Malaysia had set a target of 2.7 million Indonesian tourist arrivals for 2011 and was also prepared to promote Malaysian popular tourist destinations through various campaigns in Indonesia, including in Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Manado, Makasar and Balik Papan.
He said attractive tourism packages would also be offered during the campaign to lure Indonesian tourists, ranging from the middle class groups to the elite groups, to Malaysia.
“Based on our experience, efforts to promote Malaysia as a holiday destination had shown a very positive result.
“So, the same efforts, like by oganising tourism exhibitions and seminars, road tours, Mega FAM Trip and the likes, will be intensified,” he told Bernama here yesterday.
Jamil said Tourism Malaysia had also brought several members of Indonesian media to visit Malaysia last year and the publicity they gave on Malaysia’s tourist destinations were overwhelming.
“That include several television slots given on Malaysian popular destinations by the main television stations in Indonesia.
“This kind of publicity had surely increased our confidence level that Malaysian tourism industry is capable of attracting more Indonesian tourists,” he said.
Jamil said Tourism Malaysia was also planning to introduce bi-destination packages to the Indonesian tourists, that is to visit Malaysia and Thailand, or Malaysia and Singapore, during their campaign this year.
He said the campaign would be carried out with cooperation from various quarters including international airlines, hotels and credit card issuers.
“This is the best mechanism to ensure that every quarters will benefit from the effort,” he added.
— Bernama