Arrival of first Sempati Air flight from Indonesia

27/5/93

A new step in forging closer ties with our northern neighbours was taken at Perth International Airport today with the arrival of the first Sempati Air flight from Indonesia.

Tourism Minister Doug Shave who officially welcomed the high-ranking Indonesian Government officials and owners of the airline travelling on the inaugural flight, said the new Sempati flights would give Western Australia an opportunity to tap into its nearest and potentially biggest tourism market in the next decade.

"This is a major coup for WA as we now have two international airlines operating direct flights on the Jakarta-Perth route," Mr Shave said.

"Sempati Air has obviously recognised the tremendous potential of the outbound tourism market in the island of Java.

"It is a modern and progressive airline offering an extremely high level of service and we are privileged that Sempati Air has chosen WA as a key part of its network."

Sempati Air, after 22 years as a charter airline, became a scheduled airline in 1990 and has been steadily expanding its international routes.

Mr Shave said that tourist numbers from Indonesia to WA had almost doubled in the last five years, amounting to an annual average growth rate of 19.5 per cent.

He said that this had occurred despite a small base figure.  However, with improved air connections, he expected Indonesian visitor numbers to increase rapidly in the next few years.

"Many Western Australians would be surprised that the potential outbound tourism market in Indonesia is larger than the population of Australia and Perth is their nearest western-style destination," Mr Shave said.

"The biggest challenge for our State is making the marketplace aware of what we have to offer and the Western Australian Tourism Commission will continue to focus its attention on this area."

Media contact: Brian Coulter 222 9595 or 325 4133