Director of the Promotion of Foreign Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of RI Noviendi Makalam admit, the number of Russian tourists who travel to Indonesia continued to increase. However, unfortunately, this potential is untapped because of lack of maximal regular direct flights Russia-Indonesia.
“They expect a direct flight to Indonesia,” said Noviendi Makalam the sidelines of the exhibition 17th International Trade Exhibition Travel and Tourism-Leisure Otdykh 2011, in Moscow, Russia.
Currently, Russian tourists to Indonesia using the seasonal charter flights from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and Novosibirsk.
“We’ve been talking about regular direct flights, but there is still no response,” he said.
It is also submitted that the tourism industry attended the event, including Vice Chairman of Privet Bali Tourism Association, who is also Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation in Bali, Chaerul Nuku Kamka.
“Hopefully with regular direct flights, Russian tourists will flood Indonesia. The increase not only in terms of quantity, but also the quality of the tourists themselves,” said Nuku Kamka.
Since one and a half years ago, the opening of regular direct flights discourse has surfaced. Especially after the signing of the Air Service Agreement between Indonesia and Russia in March 2011 and then.
Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Russian Federation and concurrently the Republic of Belarus, Hamid Awaludin said the signing of the Air Service Agreement is opening the way for co-operation of direct flights Indonesia-Russia, both for passengers and cargo. He believes this could increase the flow of tourists to and from the two countries, and will be able to encourage increased economic cooperation, trade and investment. “Many parties are awaiting the implementation of the Air Service Agreement, one of them in the form of Russia-Indonesia direct flight,” said Hamid.
In addition to charter planes, Russian tourists usually use regular flights via Singapore, Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Frankfurt, or Amesterdam.
Meanwhile, the business spirit of Indonesia’s tourism industry to attract Russian tourists to Indonesia is very high. They actively pick up the ball, such as participating in various international exhibitions, including “Otdykh Leisure 2011″ in Crocus Expo, Moscow, since 20 September.
Statistical records Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia shows Russian tourists to Indonesia has increased although not in accordance with the existing potential. In 2010 as many as 79,100 Russian tourists to Indonesia increased 15 percent from a year earlier.
In the period January-June 2011 Russian tourists to Indonesia recorded 46,181 and 90,000 people are expected to target until the end of 2011 can be achieved. That number does not mean anything if you see the passion of Russian citizens to travel abroad.
Based on data from Statistics Service of Russia, Russian tourists who visit abroad period January-June 2011 more than 6.1 million people. Countries that become the choice of Russian tourists, such as Turkey visited by more than 1.13 million people, China is almost 632 thousand people, Egypt about 489 thousand people, and Thailand more than 421 thousand people.
In 2010 Russian citizens who travel abroad as much as 12.6 million people and spent 26.5 billion U.S. dollars.