JAKARTA, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia will stage their cultural performers in the upcoming New Zealand landmark festival of Farmers Santa Parade, aimed at attracting more tourists and further tapping tourism market potentials from the country, an official at the tourism ministry said.
"It would be the largest parade in their country, staged on the streets with tens of floatations. Indonesia would appear in the parade with a theme of Phinisi vessel," Deputy of Marketing Development for Foreign Markets at the ministry I Gde Pitana said in a statement released on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Indonesia will also use the opportunity in the event to provide the information about free visa for New Zealand tourists planning to visit Indonesia.
New Zealand is among 169 countries awarded free visa for tour visit by Indonesian government with an aim to further boost the number of foreign visitors to the archipelago nation.
Initiated in 1934, the annual Farmers Santa Parade is a spectacular landmark festival that attracts thousands of people who are eager to watch floatation and attractions that takes 2.2 km of route in Auckland's main streets.
With increasing welfare among its people, Pitana said that New Zealand has great market potential for Indonesia's tourism sector.
Through its participation in the parade, Indonesia is also aiming to see more yachts visiting the nation from New Zealand. Pitana said that Indonesia has shortened the procedure to organize permission for yachts to enter Indonesian waters to three hours only.
