Indonesia used a trade and press reception during World Travel Mart to assure tour operators, press and the market that Indonesia is a viable destination, despite the haze situation.
Deputy Director General of Tourism for international marketing Acep Hidayat said Indonesia was working through the Internet and doing public relations with other ASEAN countries to release weekly updates on the fires in Indonesia.
The situation, which affects only parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan, has led to negative growth in arrivals, netting only a five per cent increase through October, when growth is usually in double digits.
Hidayat is optimistic that Indonesia will reach the low end of its arrival target for 1997, about 5.3 million arrivals. Arrivals last year totalled 5.035 million.