King Salman Of Saudi Arabia Considered Free Supporters Of Indonesian Tourism In Today's Memory, March 7, 2017

President Jokowi when receiving King Salman's visit from Saudi Arabia at the Bogor Palace, Wednesday, March 1, 2017. (Presidential Secretariat)

JAKARTA Memori hari Ini, tujuh tahun yang lalu, 7 Maret 2017, Menteri Pariwisata (Menpar), Arif Yahya menyebut Raja Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud dari Arab Saudi sebagai pendukung (endorser) gratis pariwisata Indonesia. Semua karena kedatangan Raja Salman ke Indonesia disorot banyak media mancanegara.

King Salman and his entourage will enjoy a vacation to Bali from March 4-12. Previously, the arrival of King Salman was a form of maintaining the warmth of friendship between the two countries: Indonesia-Saudi Arabia.

Foreign politics has a significant role for the existence of a country. Studies to maintain friendship between countries are also carried out. Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, for example. Cooperation matters between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia are not just a matter of worship activities to the holy land, Makkah.

The two countries have been cooperating in all fields since time immemorial. In fact, until the era of President Jokowi. Friendship between the two countries continues to be warm. This warmth was seen when Jokowi came to Saudi Arabia in 2015.

At that time, Jokowi was immediately greeted by King Salman with great fanfare. Jokowi was also given a sign of the honor of friendship. The honor is in the form of a Medal. Star of Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud - Order of Merit with 5 degrees, his name.

A medal that was also given to Barack Obama, David Cameron, George Bush, to Shinzo Abe. King Salman immediately replied to Jokowi's visit in March 2017. King Salman brought along a large group.

The group consisted of 1500 people, including 25 sons and 10 ministers. The arrival was a form of seriousness in maintaining good relations between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. President Jokowi did not want to lose.

King Salman was greeted with great fanfare. The Honorary Star of the Republic of Indonesia Adipurna was given to him on March 1, 2017. This momentum received the attention of many domestic and foreign media.

Furthermore, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung explained that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) would confer the highest honorary star of the Republic of Indonesia to King Salman. This honorary star was given, because when he visited Saudi Arabia, President Jokowi also received the highest honor from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Seskab added that for the first time, President Jokowi will directly pick up a state guest, King Salman at the airport. Why is this done? Because when he visited Saudi Arabia, President Jokowi was picked up at the door of the plane by King Salman. Thus, this relationship is a very close, very close, very close relationship," it was written on the Cabinet Secretariat website, February 22, 2017.

King Salman's state agenda lasts until March 3. Because, 4 to 8 March King Salman and his entourage wanted to have a private holiday agenda to Bali. However, King Salman then did not want to rush. He then extended his vacation until March 12.

The holiday agenda was welcomed by Menpar, Arif Yahya. He said King Salman's holiday to Bali had benefits for Indonesia. All because King Salman is like a free supporter who is able to promote Indonesian tourism to the world.

This statement was revealed by Arif Yahya on March 6, 2017. He believes that Middle Eastern tourist visits can increase because of the influence of King Salman. Moreover, King Salman chose a vacation to Bali, which in fact is Indonesia's mainstay tourism.

"Our target is to increase. In 2015 tourist visits from the Middle East are around 180 thousand, then in 2016 it will increase to 250 thousand. With King Salman's arrival, we are sure it can reach 350 thousand because I believe King Salman is a free endorser," he said when met at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs, Jakarta, as quoted by Antara, March 6, 2017.