I. Gede Ardika – Minister of Tourism, Indonesia

The Middle East countries and Indonesia are linked by historical cultural and trade ties that date back centuries. As new opportunities present themselves in the new millennium, it is vital to explore new avenues of co-operation and interaction and renew our traditional ties with the Arab world.

Tourist arrivals into Indonesia from the Middle East countries have been registering a steady growth in recent years as more and more visitors from the region discover the many splendours of our beautiful country. From pristine beaches to modern shopping malls – our country has a wealth of tourist attractions to satisfy varying tastes and interest.

Indonesia also offers an attractive location for international conventions, exhibitions and events with a number of international-class venues and facilities suitable for hosting specialised activities including hotels and resorts with convention and exhibition facilities.

A series of familiarization trips of Middle East tour operators, travels agents and media are also being held throughout the year by our department to promote Indonesia as an attractive tourist and business destination in the Middle East region.

We are hoping to further strengthen our ties with the Middle East countries in the coming years. In this context, the publication of specialised magazines such as this publication provides vital information to boost bi-lateral ties between Indonesia and the Middle East. I congratulate the publishers of this magazine on their initiative and wish them success in their future endeavours.