Palembang, S Sumatra (Antarasumsel.com) - Indonesian province of South Sumatra and Malaysia are cooperating in boosting the development tourism to increase the number of tourist arrivals from both countries.
South Sumatra`s Tourism Service Head Irene Camalyn said in Palembang on Sunday that the cooperation will benefit both sides as most of Malaysian tourists arrived in South Sumatra in 2016.
"Now we can no longer sell tourism individually. We have to cooperate to attract tourists. Indonesian tourists who want to go to Europe, for example, they want to also visit Paris, the Netherlands and others. The same thing also happens with European tourists. They are expected to come not only to Indonesia but also to Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand," she said.
A total of 58 thousand tourists from Malaysia arrived in South Sumatra in 2016, or an increase by one thousand as compared with those arriving in 2015.
In the meantime, Malaysia sets a target of one thousand tourists from South Sumatra arriving in Malaysia every week in 2017.
The increase in the visits are expected after the Malaysian side has established cooperation with the South Sumatran government and the Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (Asita).
She said that Malaysia earns about 37.4 billion ringgit from its tourism sector with 11.7 billion or 31.4 percent came from shopping tourism.
S Sumatra, Malaysia cooperate in tourism development
Ilustrasi tempat wisata Air Terjun Batu Dinding (Istimewa)
