After the success in hosting the annual Indonesian tourism show, Tourism Indonesia Mart & Expo (TIME) last year, Yogyakarta is now getting ready to welcome this year`s TIME. Like last year, TIME 2005 or known as `Pasar Wisata Indonesia` 2005 will be held at the Jogja Expo Centre (JEC) from 23 - 26 September 2005. This tourism event has been held for eleven years now, organized by the Indonesia Tourism Promotion Board (ITPB) with support from the entire tourism industry in Indonesia.

Chairperson of TIME 2005 Steering Committee, Mrs. Meity Robot, said, Since its first conduct in 1994 in Jakarta, TIME has been organized to show our commitment to support our efforts to maintain Indonesia`s image in the international market place and continue promoting Indonesia`s tourism industry to the worldwide market.

The beginning of year 2004 brought new hopes for Indonesia`s tourism industry. After a long fight for recovery, Indonesia finally grabbed back international visitors, from January to July 2004 total number of foreign visitors increased 31.23%. It is a pity that this positive movement was stained by the Kuningan bombing, 9 September, followed by the devastating Tsunami tragedy on 26 December last year. Again all the tourism sectors in Indonesia have to fight back to regain foreign visitors, she added.

TIME has become a momentum for continuing our efforts to promote the destination to aid in the recovery. It is an opportunity for other regions to be host of TIME which is aimed to lift Indonesian`s struggling industry, which has not yet fully recovered after experiencing various setbacks for the past three years, Meity continued.

I see that the changing of venue of TIME every two years is very effective to promote every province in Indonesia to the international market, so that international holidaymakers will be attracted to travel to other provinces. With more people coming, there will definitely be improvement in the infrastructure within the region. This will not only increase the development of the tourism related industry, but also the supporting industries, said Meity.

This year`s TIME 2005 is held closely prior to the PATA Travel Mart in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 27 - 30 September 2005 so that buyers can continue their trip to Kuala Lumpur after attending TIME. This is aimed at achieving a greater number of buyers, she went on.

Yogyakarta has become one of the favorite tourist destinations for international holidaymakers. The city possesses sound infrastructure and facilities of the same level with Bali and Jakarta. This includes an international airport, Adisucipto, as well as world-class accommodation. With two international direct flights, from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to Yogyakarta presently, this will not only attract inbound traffic to the region, but also putting Yogyakarta and Central Java more firmly on the tourist map, Meity continued.

TIME is an event for buyers from overseas and Indonesian sellers from various travel and tourism sectors, including hotels, resorts, spas, airlines, National Tourism Offices (NTO), tour operators, travel agencies, cruise liner operators, golf operators, and many more.

As Indonesia`s prime travel show, TIME 2005 accommodates the interests of those who sell Indonesia`s tourism products and services to international markets. The event will feature most of Indonesia`s tourist attractions, which include all popular tourist destinations, top tourist facilities available in the country as well as new products.

TIME is already listed in the tourism international events calendar, together with ITB Berlin, WTM London, and ATM Dubai.

TIME 2005 is supported by the entire travel and tourism industry in Indonesia, including the Department of Culture and Tourism, Yogyakarta Provincial Government, Yogyakarta Tourism Board, Garuda Indonesia, international air carriers operating to/from Indonesia, INACA (Indonesia National Air Carriers Association), BARINDO (Board of Airline Representatives Indonesia), ASITA (Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies), PHRI (Indonesia Hotels & Restaurants Association), Jogja & Central Java Hotel Association (JCJHA), and Pacto Convex as event organizer, Meity said.

Last year TIME 2004 was attended by 102 buyers from 28 countries, namely the Netherlands, Indonesia. China, Singapore, as well as United States, Korea and Australia, and many more. The event attracted 130 sellers from 20 provinces of Indonesia, dominated by the hotel industry 64% from the total sellers and followed by tour operators/travel agents 24%, NTOs 8%, airlines 2%, and tourism attraction 2%. Whereas, TIME 2003 attracted 101 sellers from 17 provinces and 100 buyers from 25 countries.

Looking at the more conducive atmosphere in the country this year supported by the enthusiasm and commitment of the new government to develop tourism, as well as improvement in the economic, security and political condition, we are optimistic that participants of TIME 2005 will increase this year , Meity concluded.