JAKARTA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia expected to see more Russian tourists after it saw surging arrivals of them last year, and has set a target of receiving 108,000 Russians this year, the tourism ministry said Monday.
Deputy Minister for Foreign Markets at the ministry I Gde Pitana said that arrivals of Russian tourists to Indonesia surged significantly last year.
"In the first seven months last year, their arrivals in Indonesia reached 66,074 ones. That figure was 57.16 percent higher than 42,042 ones in the same period an year earlier," Pitana said.
In a bid to meet the target for this year, Indonesia recently took part in Russia's travel expo event of Otdykh Leisure held in Moscow, he said.
During the 23rd annual event held last week, 12 Indonesian travel operators and hotels serving accommodations in Bali and Papua's Raja Ampat received high enthusiasm from Russian travel agents and potential travelers.
Pitana said Indonesia's appearance at Otdykh Leisure event was a strategic move to grab more Russian tourists during their long haul winter season traveling to tropical regions of Asia Pacific.
Russia is among 10 largest contributors to Indonesia's foreign tourist arrivals.
