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By APD writer Aditya Nugraha
JAKARTA, Feb. 4 (APD) -- Indonesia Tourism Minister Arief Yahya hailed plans of China’s giant digital firm Alibaba and Bali province regional government in providing particular application for Chinese tourists traveling in Bali, enabling them to surf tourism information and book travel packages to Bali.
Besides those services, the integrated functions provided in the application would further vibrate the economy in Indonesia’s ultimate destination, the minister said.
“The application would help expanding the economy in Bali as it would involve local banks and local businesses,” the minister said recently to welcome the tourism cooperation plans.
The plans were disclosed in the recent meeting of Alibaba Southeast Asia General Manager Cherry Huang and Bali Deputy Governor Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati in Bali province capital of Denpasar.
Huang said the application would involve local banks and several businesses that would eventually benefiting both Chinese tourists and tourism in Indonesia’s ultimate destination of Bali.
“The application would ease Chinese tourist while they are traveling in Bali. They can individually pick places they want to visit, or go to the recommended restaurants,” Huang said.
Such an application has successfully been applied in Thailand and Vietnam, she said, adding that it has spurred visit of Chinese individual tourists to the two countries.
According to Huang, thanks to the application, number of Chinese individual travelers has been growing 50 percent in the last 3 years.
“We are very sure about the success of this application should it be provided in Bali. Bali is now a very famous destination in China,” Huang said.
Indonesia has set target to receive 3.5 million Chinese tourists to support its 20 million foreign tourist arrivals this year.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
