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Indonesia to become tourism-designated area for Chinese tourists

JAKARTA (indo.com): The Chinese Government will release a new policy allowing Indonesia, especially Bali, to become one of the tourism-designated areas for Chinese tourists.

"The decision will be made by the end of 2000 or early 2001 in response to the Government of Indonesia's earlier decision to grant free-visa facilities for Chinese citizens visiting Indonesia," Balinese Governor Dewa Beratha said in Denpasar recently.

Dewa Beratha made the remarks following his talk with tourism officials of the four-twin provinces in Hainan, China. The talks focused on how to develop tourism cooperation between Indonesia and the four-twin provinces.

The four provinces have agreed to establish cooperation on tourism, fishery and environment. They are Bali (Indonesia), Hainan (China), Okinawa (Japan) and Cheju (South Korea).

The Governor added that Minister of Culture and Tourism I Gedhe Ardhika held discussions with his Chinese counterpart on tourism cooperation between the two countries.

The talks included the planned direct flight from China to Indonesia, especially from Hainan Province to Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali, Antara News Agency reported.

He said that a direct flight from China to Indonesia once or twice a week was expected to materialize this year so that "more Chinese tourists will come to Indonesia, particularly Bali."

In mid October of this year, President Abdurrahman "Gud Dur" Wahid issued a policy giving citizens of China the "free short-stay visa" facility, allowing Chinese visitors to arrange their visa on arrival in Indonesia.

The President has also revoked a 1967 regulation banning any celebration of Chinese cultural and religious events in Indonesia.

Indonesia is expected to gain a share in the Chinese tourism market now enjoyed by its neighboring countries, such as Thailand.

"We expect that at least 500,000 Chinese tourists will visit Indonesia next year," one tourism official told indo.com.