DESTINATION -In cooperation with airlines and national tourist association

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DESTINATION -In cooperation with airlines and national tourist association, the Indonesian government will hold International Tourist and Travel Fair (ITTF) slated for Oct 2 this year, Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik said here on Tuesday.

The fair is aimed to improve the tarnished image the country after two bombings damaged two luxury hotels in the capital of Jakarta on July 17, said the minister.

"The ITTF will become an annual program which aims to promote Indonesian tourism to the international community," said Jero Wacik in his speech at the 2009 ITTF here.

He said that ITTF is a strategic moment for the government to reach its destination of tourists from around 6.5 million this year. The government is targeting a number slightly higher than last year's 6.43 million figure.

Jero also said ITTF addition, the department will also invite foreign journalists to report what is really going on in India after the bombings so to convince the international community that Indonesia is still comfortable, safe, is not affected by the attack.

"They (foreign journalists) will be free to write everything they see in Indonesia," added Jero.

In line with the department's plan, ships from the Indonesian airline, Garuda Indonesia, will launch flight services to European countries after the authorities in the European Union (EU) revoked its ban on Indonesian aircraft from serving in Europe.

"We will continue our flight to Europe with the goal early in Amsterdam in October. This will improve the European tourists in Indonesia since tourists are among the most fun visiting Indonesia," Agus Priyanto, the director of the airline business, "said.

In the first six months of this year, the number of foreign tourists in Indonesia has reached 2.97 million, a year-on year increase of 2.17 percent.

Chairman of the committee that set the Ben Sukma said at least 260 exhibitors have confirmed their participation in the 2009 ITTF.

ITTF event last year saw the transaction more than 20 million U.S. dollars from more than 250 buyers attended the event, said Ben.