Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK) opened PATA Travel Mart (PTM) 2016 which will last from September 7 to 9 in Nusantara Room of Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE), Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD) in Banten Province on Wednesday night.

Around 1,000 participants from 60 countries are taking part in the PTM 2016.

This event is among others attended by 262 buyers from 56 countries, sellers (219 companies, and international media (65 media from 15 countries plus 12 bloggers).

On the first day of the event, Tourism Affairs Minister Arief Yahya made a welcome speech before delegations of the PATA gathering.

This gathering is also aimed to promote tourism objects and the countrys new tourist attractions.

The welcoming reception and the opening ceremony of the gathering was enlivened by musical performance of Purwacaraka Light Orchestra.

On the occasion, Minister Arief Yahya symbolically received award of TripAdvisor Travellers, Choice Award 2016 which was submitted by Martin Verdon-Roe.

In 2016, Indonesia received nine awards of TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award within the scope of Global and Asia of four categories: Destinations, Island, Landmark, and Beaches.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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