The coastal city of Pariaman in West Sumatra, Indonesia held a unique competition to establish itself as an Islamic tourism destination – a blogging contest.
Open to all junior and senior high school students in the city, all blog entries must carry the theme “Pariaman City As the Islamic Tourism Destination”.
Sunset in Pariaman, West Sumatra, Indonesia. Photo by vinsen ip.
An array of photos and local listings were provided by the local city government to complement the blog designs. All entries will be judged by a committee of city officials and representatives from local telecommunication and media industries.
According to Pen-Olson.com, the competition serves two main purposes, i.e. to promote Pariaman as a Islamic tourism destination, as well as to encourage students to use IT and channel their talents and creativity into something more constructive.
“The Internet is a facility required to increase the nation’s competitiveness,” said Tundra Laksamana, head of communications department of Pariaman City. “Young Internet users must be directed to be more creative and productive when online.”
The Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism has also recently started promoting local tourism through an informative website Indonesia.travel, another a good example of how to engage in effective online marketing.
Held to celebrate the city’s ninth anniversary, the blogging contest ends today (July 5). More info are available here (in Bahasa Indonesia).
MEANWHILE, the island of Bali was awarded the Top Ten Tourist Attractions for the Chinese in 2011, a worldwide recognition based on a poll conducted by the Beijing People’s Broadcasting Station earlier in April.
Sunrise in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia. Photo by Liana Bitoli, Greece.
The award was received by the Indonesian Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Mongolia, H.E. Mr. Imron Cotan, during the 1st Global Tourism Thermal List, in a ceremony held at the Beijing Broadcast Building on June 16, 2011.
The Award presentation was attended by the head of the PRC Tourism Administration Office, as well as representatives of the PRC’s Tourism Institute, Beijing Tourism Development Committee, and Foreign Travel Bureaus in Beijing.
Bali was also recognized as the only Asian tourism destination hat made it into top 10. Located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands between Java and Lombok, Bali received approximately 200,000 Chinese tourists from over 50 million who traveled abroad in 2010.
Other top ten destinations chosen by Internet users and radio audiences from 68 destinations around the world include Australia, Cape Town, Edinburgh, Hawaii, Madrid, Egypt, Niagara Falls, Paris and Switzerland.
Bali was also awarded The Best Leisure Destination in Asia Pacific by Business Travelers Asia Pacific Hong Kong Magazine in 2010.
Pingback: Indonesia Meta Guide
Pingback: HalalSurfCom
Pingback: Ogilvy Noor
Pingback: HalalSME