GRADUAL GROWTH HOPED FOR IN RI-PAKISTAN TOURISM RELATIONS

Jakarta, Feb 19 (ANTARA) - A senior Indonesian tourism official has expressed hope Indonesia-Pakistan relations in tourism will witness gradual growth in the future.

Wardyatmo, secretary general at the Culture and Tourism Ministry, did so at a meeting with Pakistan's ambassador to Indonesia Sanaullah, according to a press release received here on Friday.

At the meeting to explore new avenues to deepen the already friendly relations between the two countries, he also claimed that each year four million Indonesians went abroad for tourism only.

Both sides further discussed the need to finalize the comprehensive work plan submitted by Pakistan in 2005 to promote cultural exchanges between both countries.

Wardyatmo said that a direct air service with Pakistan could be useful to encourage tourists. He was briefed about the available flights and told that commercial viability of a direct air link would have to be studied in the light of the existing and future projections of tourists.

If a similar study was available, it could be sent to the national airline in Pakistan to consider inclusion of Jakarta in its flight operations covering Malaysia.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Sanaullah emphasized that Pakistan and Indonesia shared culture and religion emanating from ancient civilizations. Pakistan presented an excellent destination for Indonesian tourists interested in snow clad mountains, green villages built on frozen glaciers, Buddhist and Hindu relics and vibrant Islamic art and cuisine.

In this context, he mentioned Lahore as the cultural heart of Pakistan, northern areas of Pakistan as heavenly spots on earth, deserts in Sindh as nature robed in twilight and Karachi as a glamorous business and fashion hub of Pakistan.