INDONESIA PROMOTES TOURISM AT THE "ONE WORLD FESTIVAL" IN OSAKA

Jakarta, Feb 6 (Antara) - Indonesia is promoting its tourism by participating in the annual One World Festival in Osaka, Japan, on February 6 and 7, 2016. "This festival is a strategic event to promote Indonesia's tourism to the people in Osaka," Head of Asia Pacific Market Festival of Ministry of Tourism Adella Raung noted in a written statement received by Antara Saturday. Not only selling the richness of tourism potential in Indonesia, Ministry of Tourism is also preparing to show the traditional art performance such as Bajidor Kahot, Cendrawasih, and Zapin dances in the festival which also features various cultures from all around the world. The One World Festival (OWF) is a meeting festival in collaboration with NGO, NPO, international institutions, local administration, and companies, according to the official website. Delivering the message of the One World which could be lived together, this festival is aiming to raise the awareness of the people of Osaka about the importance of international cooperation. In 2015, around 26.000 visitors attended the two-day OWF. Of that number, about 2.000 people stopped by the Indonesia booth which was managed by the Consulate General of Republic Indonesia (KJRI) Osaka and state-owned airline Garuda Indonesia. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism was offering support by providing the materials of tourism promotion such as keepsakes, DVD, brochures, tourism maps, posters, etc. "Through these tourism promotions and cultural performances we believe the brand-building of Wonderful Indonesia will be stronger," Adella stated. There were 491.893 visits of Japanese tourists to Indonesia in 2015, while the target of 2016 will be 550.000 visits of Japanese tourists, the Ministry of Tourism noted. Such optimism is based on the issuance of Government Regulation No.69 of 2015 on visa-free visits. "The regulation facilitates Japanese tourists to visit Indonesia for 30 days without need of visa application," Adella said.