JAKARTA, Sept. 6 (Xinhuanet) As a new round of celebrations for the 600th anniversary of Chinese Ming Dynasty navigator Zheng He's voyage of the West Ocean is to be held here at the end of this year, travel agencies find their opportunities in such a craze and start to introduce new tourism packages concerned with Zheng He to meet people's curiosity about him.

    "There is now a huge demand among people to know about Zheng He. It is a cultural phenomenon. It is a desire to communicate. It is a historical rebirth. It is also a business opportunity, especially for us," Pronowo Gumulia, Vice President Director of the archipelago's leading travel agency Bayu Buana, told Xinhua recently.

    By tapping the potential of its network of service outposts allover Indonesia, Bayu Buana is ready to introduce a daring project called "Travel like Zheng He," which aims to take targeted travelers to historical sites concerned with the navigator and hisfleet.

    "Indonesia is well-known for the variety of Zheng He's vestiges.We have Zheng He Temple in Semarang. We have Zheng He Mosque in Surabaya. We have one of Zheng He's followers' temple on Bali Island. Meanwhile, you can also find in Indonesia many other traces left by him, such as bronze coins, sculpture and cloth-dying technique. All these legends constitute the basic elements of a unique and brave travel idea," he said.

    About 600 years ago, Zheng He traveled as ambassador for culture, religion and trade. Nowadays, when the clients walk alonghis steps, Bayu Buana expects them to communicate with their travel mates as well as local people about culture, religion and trade, too.

    "Let me tell you that we also have some partners outside Indonesia. We plan to join hands with them in the future to enableour clients to 'Travel like Zheng He' not only all over Indonesia,but all over the Southeast Asia," Gumulia added.

    Meanwhile, Zhou Jichao, Secretary General of the Indonesian Commemoration Committee for Celebrations of Zheng He Anniversary told Xinhua that the Zheng He craze is expected to continue in Indonesia as more activities about his navigation will be held in November 2005 and January 2006.

    "Zheng He International Cultural Year will be unveiled next January, which may be the climax of the celebrations," he said.

    Peace seminar, opening ceremony for a Zheng He television dramaas well as other photo and essay shows will be included in the Cultural Year and people from other countries are welcomed to attend, he added.

    According to Zhou, businessmen have applied to open travel agencies in Jakarta named after Zheng He in order to take advantage of the craze and local media also published a lot of Indonesian, Chinese and English stories about his adventures.

    "All these hustle and bustle are just a realistic recognition of the ancient navigator's contribution, which is later magnified by all means of commercial exploitation. If this can do good to people and society, why can't we let it sustain and blossom?" saidZhou. Enditem