Indonesia is currently channeling its efforts to attract foreign tourists from Asia-Pacific countries.

Deputy for Foreign Tourism Marketing Development of the Ministry of Tourism I Gde Pitana noted in a written statement in Jakarta on Friday that his office is focusing its foreign tourism marketing program this year on markets in the Asia-Pacific region.

"Targeted countries include China, Australia, Japan, South Korea, India, and other markets," he revealed.

Several promotional initiatives have been prepared, for instance, by undertaking more activities in the form of exhibitions and sales missions.

Pitana stated that from January to December 2017, his office has prepared 54 activities in the form of 30 exhibitions and 24 sales missions.

Festivals will be promoted through 30 activities and familiarization trips of 51 activities.

Meanwhile, promotional activities implemented in the Asia-Pacific markets until July 2017 include participation in the Incentive Travel Convention Meeting in China, Hanatour International Travel Show, International Travel Expo in Hong Kong, and ADEX Australia.

Furthermore, in the second semester of 2017, Indonesia will participate in several important events, such as the PATA Travel Mart, JATA Tourism Expo, China International Travel Mart, and MATTA Fair.

"The same activities were also held in the European, Middle East, American, and African markets to exploit their potential," Pitana noted.

It will participate in nine exhibition events, with one each in July, August, and September; as well as two exhibitions in October; and four in November 2017.

Among the international exhibition events is the largest exhibition WTM London and World Halal Tourism Summit.

Pitana expects to see an increase in participation and synergy among the local government, tourism business players, and other tourism stakeholders to support the international tourism marketing program in 2018.

"Several activities involving collaboration with the local governments include with the Aceh government for the MATTA Fair and ITB in Berlin and with the Yogyakarta provincial government in the Vietnam Travel Mart. We hope that participation and synergy between the central and local governments would strengthen cooperation with associations and other elements, such as the media, academia, and community, in 2018 " Pitana added.