Aim is to promote cultural bonding and education: Consul General

Wooing tourists to Jakarta located on the north-west coast of Java and the volcanic forested mountains at Bali from the Telugu States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and promoting cultural bonding and education by signing ‘sister city’ agreement with Vijayawada top Indonesia’s agenda.

By offering visa on arrival without any charge to Indians, Indonesia wants to increase tourist arrival. Indonesia sends coal and palm oil – almost 66% of its exports to India and has allowed export of sugar and rice by Indian traders.

Last year, six lakh Indians visited Indonesia compared to five lakh the previous year, the largest number after China, Japan and Australia. This year, it hopes the number to go up to six lakh, accounting for 20% growth rate.

“We give lot of importance to A.P. and Telangana. Our students are going for higher studies to Hyderabad. One of our students has gone to the English and Foreign Language University to study in Japanese language because it is affordable,” Indonesia Consul General Ade Sukendar told The Hindu during his visit to Visakhapatnam.

After Garuda Indonesia withdrew its service to Mumbai, Mr. Sukendar said they were in discussion with IndiGo for launching direct flight, either from Delhi or Mumbai.

At present, one has to travel via Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. Discussions with IndiGo were encouraging, he added.

He said reintroduction of direct connectivity would go a long way in promoting tourism and strengthening bilateral ties, and informed that there was huge potential for Indonesians to visit India and their number went up from 36,000 in 2017 to 49,000 in 2018. s

There is a target to increase volume of bilateral trade from $18.74 billion last year to $50 billion by 2025.

Mr. Sukendar said, “Indonesia is one of the most attractive destinations to Indian tourists with its rich culture, wonderful nature, friendly people and much more that will give a once-in-a lifetime experience. Our cuisine and traditional dance and music featuring Ramayana and our ancient bilateral ties are the major attractions.”