RI not to stop tourism promotion in Europe despite flight ban

Padang, W Sumatra (Antara News) - The Indonesian government will not stop promoting its tourism industry to Europe despite the European Union banning all 51 Indonesian airlines from flying to the region, Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said.

"We will not stop tourism promotion in Europe," he said here Saturday.

He said European tourists were divided in responding to the ban on the Indonesian airlines flying to the 27-nation block.

Some European tourists were frightened at the ban, while others wanted to visit Indonesia despite the ban, he said.

"If they are looking forward to visiting Indonesia, they will definitely do so," he said.

He said the ban would certainly have an adverse impact on the number of tourist arrivals, particularly those from Europe to Indonesia. "Of course there will be impact. European tourists will certainly be disturbed," he said.

On average, 700 thousand European tourists visited Indonesia every year, he said. "The number will likely decline due to the flight ban," he said.