BALI, Indonesia, April 6: Tourism entrepreneurs of Nepal and Indonesia have started dialogue to promote tourism between the two countries.
Ways of possible cooperation featured in the meetings between Nepali and Indonesian entrepreneurs held in different cities of Indonesia during a recent familiarization trip for Nepali stakeholders organized by the Indonesian government.
Nine Nepali participants including travel entrepreneurs and media persons participated in the 'fam-trip' organized by Indonesia's Tourism Ministry and Embassy of Indonesia in Dhaka, Bangladesh, that also looks after Nepal affairs. The trip was coordinated by IME Travels.
A meeting was hosted between the tourism entrepreneurs of the two countries, where participants discussed about the potential of tourism, possible destinations, and prospects of cooperation between two countries.
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Speaking at the meeting, Murni Nyaristi, third secretary at the embassy of Indonesia in Dhaka, said that the familiarization trip for Nepali participants was organized to support tourism development of Indonesia.
Binod Sapkota, CEO of IME Travels, said that Nepal could learn from the practices and policies that Indonesia has adopted for the development of tourism industry.
"This will help in conducting feasibility studies for tourism and promoting various destinations of Nepal," he said. "Both countries can reap the benefits if we could develop sisterhood relationship between Kathmandu and Bali of Indonesia."
He urged the people of Indonesia to visit Nepal to experience various adventure activities offered in the country.
Didin Setia Parmana from the tourism ministry of Indonesia said that Indonesia was running 'Wonderful Indonesia' campaign for the promotion of tourism of the country.
"We expect promotion of Indonesian tourism in Nepal," he said. "We hope this campaign will promote tourism of both the countries," he added.
Stating that Indonesia could be a good destination for Nepali tourists, Vishnu Aarimbaba, an Indonesian tourism entrepreneur, said that they were ready to promote Nepal as a tourist destination among the people of Indonesia.
The Nepali team visited various tourist destinations of Indonesia including Uluwatu Temple, Chicken Church, Museum Bank of Indonesia and Sultan Palace, among others.
Nearly 20,000 Nepali tourists visit Indonesia every year while the number of Indonesian tourists visiting Nepal annually stands at around 7,000. Those Nepali visiting Indonesia include businessmen, cine artists and general tourists. Many travel agencies of Nepal have been offering outbound travel packages for Bali at the moment. The geographical location of the country and its over a thousand islands, beautiful tourist spots, cultural and agro-tourism products, and heritage sites lure tourists to Indonesia, according to Indonesian tourism entrepreneurs.
