Indonesia

With Muslims totalling 90% of the population, Indonesia is a natural destination for Muslim tourists. Thamrin Bachri, director-general of tourism at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, said visitors from the Arab world can feel at home with nearly all hotels in Java are equipped with special rooms for prayer and food which conform to halaal laws.

Although the country receives a large number of visitors - with an estimated 5 million tourists in 2006 and more than 6 million predicted for 2007 - there were only about 60,000 tourists from Midle Eastern countries. Indonesia is aiming this number to increase to 100,000 in 2007, and to 150,000 in 2008.

“We have more than 17,000 islands, like Java and Bali and it is a great retreat from the desert, with top class golf courses and spas,” said Monika Blachian, PR account manager for Indonesia Tourism at ATM 2007.

Catering to Arabic speakers, most signs are written in Arabic as well as a large percentage of tourist guides speaking Arabic as well. Visas are available on arrival for 22 nations, including Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Regional airlines including Emirates, Etihad, Gulf Air, Kuwait and Qatar also fly to Indonesia each week.

Now the Indonesian Government has introduced a visa-on-arrival scheme for tourists from Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. The cost is US$ 25 for one month.

The year 2008 is seen as ‘Visit Indonesia Year’ with the government targeting seven million arrivals to mark the anniversary of the nation’s Awakening Day, which will be celebrated with huge number of events and concerts.

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