Medan, North Sumatera - The flow of foreign tourists to North Sumatra is until this year still dominated by people from ASEAN member countries and this is expected to remain so in the foreseeable future, a provincial tourism official said.
"Besides being the largest group of foreign tourists coming to North Sumatra, their number is also increasing so that members of Asita (Association of Travel Agencies)`s North Sumatra chapter should focus on the ASEAN region as their market" Solahuddin Nasution, chairman of Asita`s North Sumatera chapter, said here on Monday.
In 2007, a total of 135,563 foreign tourists came to North Sumatra and of that number 90.385 were from ASEAN countries and the rest from the USA, European and Asia Pacific countries.
In 2009, the number of ASEAN tourist arrivals increased to 115.797 out of a total of 163.159 foreign tourist arrivals.
"Asita had reminded its members to manage this market well because it has a great potential, especially Malaysia," he said.
The number of Malaysian tourist arrivals had increased from year to year. It rose from 79,348 in 2007 to 102,679 in 2009.
He said North Sumatra tourist packages being offered in the ASEAN market were Parapat, Samosir, Berastagi, Baharok, Tangkahan, Nias, Medan including Medan-Padang (overland tours).
"The same tourist packages were sold in the USA, European and Asia Pacific countries.
Asita had proposed to the government to develop the infrastructure in in the tourist package areas and also to include them in its promotion programs.
Meanwhile, the executive officer of North Sumatra`s tourism and culture office, Sudarno. said in 2009. the number of foreign tourist arrivals in North Sumatra was 163,159, up from 152.494 people in 2008 while the figure for the January-July period in 2010 was 11.430. (*)
Source: http://www.antaranews.com
"Besides being the largest group of foreign tourists coming to North Sumatra, their number is also increasing so that members of Asita (Association of Travel Agencies)`s North Sumatra chapter should focus on the ASEAN region as their market" Solahuddin Nasution, chairman of Asita`s North Sumatera chapter, said here on Monday.
In 2007, a total of 135,563 foreign tourists came to North Sumatra and of that number 90.385 were from ASEAN countries and the rest from the USA, European and Asia Pacific countries.
In 2009, the number of ASEAN tourist arrivals increased to 115.797 out of a total of 163.159 foreign tourist arrivals.
"Asita had reminded its members to manage this market well because it has a great potential, especially Malaysia," he said.
The number of Malaysian tourist arrivals had increased from year to year. It rose from 79,348 in 2007 to 102,679 in 2009.
He said North Sumatra tourist packages being offered in the ASEAN market were Parapat, Samosir, Berastagi, Baharok, Tangkahan, Nias, Medan including Medan-Padang (overland tours).
"The same tourist packages were sold in the USA, European and Asia Pacific countries.
Asita had proposed to the government to develop the infrastructure in in the tourist package areas and also to include them in its promotion programs.
Meanwhile, the executive officer of North Sumatra`s tourism and culture office, Sudarno. said in 2009. the number of foreign tourist arrivals in North Sumatra was 163,159, up from 152.494 people in 2008 while the figure for the January-July period in 2010 was 11.430. (*)
Source: http://www.antaranews.com
