JAKARTA. The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry and Singapore Airlines have renewed an agreement to promote Indonesian tourism, a minister says.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Tuesday - which extends an original agreement signed in 2000 to 2015 - the ministry and the airline will each contribute US$250,000 to jointly promote Indonesian tourism in key overseas markets.

"We welcome this partnership to promote the tourism sector. With Singapore Airline's wide global network, we hope that this partnership will be able to boost Indonesia's image as one of the best tourism destinations in the world, and in turn boost the number of visitors to Indonesia," Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said.

Singapore Airlines and its subsidiary Silk Air currently serve 96 destinations in 37 countries.

Singapore Airlines executive vice president Mak Swee Wah expressed a similar sentiment. "This partnership is a part of our long term commitment to grow Indonesia's tourism industry as well as to strengthen the partnership between the tourism and creative economy and Singapore Airlines. We are confident that our marketing staff in these countries will do their utmost best to promote Indonesia to their community.” (The Jakarta Post)

Editor: Edy Can