Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is scheduled to greet King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia on his arrival in Indonesia on March 1, 2017.

Presidential Secretariat Media and Press Bureau Chief Bey Machmudin remarked here on Thursday that King Salman will arrive in Indonesia for a state visit on Mar 1 and will stay until Mar 9 for a holiday in the island resort of Bali.

"Yes, the president will greet the King of Saudi Arabia and confer the highest honorary degree of the Republic of Indonesia on the king," Machmuddin affirmed.

He said President Jokowi will also pick up the king at the airport.

While chairing a limited cabinet meeting on Tuesday, President Jokowi also discussed King Salmans planned visit to Indonesia.

After the limited cabinet meeting, Minister/Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung stated that the King of Saudi Arabia will visit Indonesia with an entourage of about 1.5 thousand people, including 10 ministers and 25 princes.

During the first three days, King Salman is scheduled to undertake an official state visit, while he and his entourage will be on vacation in Bali for the next six days.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, in a statement made available to ANTARA on Thursday, said the Saudi Kings vacation in the Indonesian island resort of Bali will boost tourism there.

The profile and popularity of Bali are believed to rise sharply, following the arrival of an influential global figure, such as King Salman of Saudi Arabia.

"Welcome to Indonesia," the minister of tourism said in a message to the King of Saudi Arabia.

Yahya expressed hope that King Salmans visit would encourage more Middle Eastern tourists to visit Indonesia.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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