W. Java eyes more tourists from China, M"sia, S"pore,

The West Java Tourism Promotion Board (BPPD) is aiming is lure more tourists from China considering the rapid growth of outbound tourists from the world’s most populous country.

“Most Chinese tourists are only familiar with Bali. We are prioritizing this market,” West Java BPPD chairman Cecep Rukmana said on Monday.

“West Java tourism-related businesses need to improve their human resources to attract more Chinese tourists.”

Cecep said Mandarin-speaking tour guides were still limited.

“We also need to improve infrastructure at tourist destinations such as by providing menus and directional signage in Mandarin,” Cecep said.

The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry’s Information and Data Center recorded that Indonesia had welcomed 7.1 million foreign tourists in the January-October period of 2013, 633.921 of which were Chinese.

In the period, the number of Chinese tourists visiting West Java was 133,997 with 822 of them having entered the province through Husein Sastranegara International Airport.

Malaysian tourists dominated the list with 97,709 visitors followed by Singapore (25,109 tourists) and Japan (1,262 tourists).

Cecep said the tourism promotion board had targeted tourists from the middle-up bracket in hopes that they would spend more on leisure activities as opposed to buying merchandise at Pasar Baru to be resold in their home countries.

Other than China, the West Java BPPD is also targeting more tourists from Malaysia, Singapore and the Netherlands.

“The situation with Malaysia and Singapore is fine because there are plenty of flights connecting Bandung with both countries,” Cecep said.

“For Dutch tourists, we are selling nostalgia because they have emotional ties with Indonesia.”

The West Java BPPD has identified at least 72 tourist destinations divided into several categories.

In the historical category, there are there Bogor and Cipanas Presidential Palaces, Kanoman Palace in Cirebon, Merdeka Building, Asia-Africa Museum and Gedung Sate in Bandung.

Tourists interested in arts and culture can visit Sindang Barang Cultural Village in Bogor, Ciptagelar customary village in Sukabumi, Saung Angklung Udjo in Bandung and Trusmi batik center in Cirebon.

Shopaholics can visit the Cibaduyut shoe center and Pasar Baru in Bandung as well as the Tajur leather goods center in Bogor, while others may want to visit the Geology Museum and Sri Baduga Museum in Bandung.

West Java also has various natural landscapes, from tea plantations in Bandung and Bogor regencies, various volcanoes and mountains such as Mount Tangkuban Parahu and Mount Papandayan, as well as a number of beaches such as Ujung Genteng, Cimaja and Pangumbahan in Sukabumi regency and Biawak Island in Indramayu regency.

The board, however, has yet to receive confirmation on its tourism promotion budget. It has already received a Rp 2 billion (US$164,325) grant for various promotional activities both at home and abroad.

Meanwhile, West Java chapter of the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) chairman Herman Muchtar said West Java, especially Bandung, also had potential for meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition (MICE) promotions.

“Tourists arrivals can be bundled with business activities,” he said.

“After a meeting, visitors can play golf or visit tourist destinations near Bandung.”

W. Java eyes more tourists from China, M"sia, S"pore,