Indonesian envoy calls for more people to people connectivity

Indonesian Ambassador to India Sidharto Suryodipuro today called for more people to people connectivity between the two countries and said tourism can be an important tool for that.

Suryodipuro, who came here to attend a meet to commemorate the cultural ties between the two nations particularly eastern India and Indonesia, said more and more people were now struck by travel bug in both countries as both were witnessing the emergence of a new middle class.

"Now with more and more people travelling, we need more regional connectivity. Tourism is the easiest way of establishing that connectivity with India directly," he said.

The number of Indians travelling to Indonesia is close to half a million, while the number of Indonesian tourists to India is close to 40,000, the diplomat told reporters.

The envoy said they were aiming to reach the figure of 70,000 Indian visitors to Indonesia in a year and said it was achievable. "We understand Bengalis like to travel in groups," Suryodipuro said.

"With Kolkata and Sumatra being in close distance, we are talking with the government to increase the number of flights to Jakarta from the present three," he said.

With the present flights being via other cities, direct Kolkata-Jakarta flights will ensure closer people-to-people connectivity and reduce time, he said.

Enhanced air connectivity is also needed from the point of view of business, Suryodipuro said.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Indonesia, he said, "PM Modi and our President Joko Widodo talked about concluding a new air service agreement."