REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BEIJING -- Indonesia has offered three destinations outside Bali for Chinese tourists to visit, including Yogyakarta, Lombok and Labuan Bajo.

"In the short-and medium-term, we would offer Yogyakarta, Lombok and Labuah Bajo, which is known for its giant lizards. We are starting to introduce other destinations, other than Bali, to Chinese tourists," Indonesian minister of tourism Mari Elka Pangestu told Antara here on Monday.

For their promotion, the three locations have already been listed on the tourism ministry's website - cn.indonseia.travel - in the Mandarin language.

Mari said China is one of 16 main markets Indonesia has been targeting. "Five of the markets are Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, China and Japan," she said.

Mari noted that Chinese tourists have, so far, only visited Bali. "Fifty-two percent of them go to Bali, while 32 percent go to Jakarta, and the remainder to other places," she said.

She added that she was aware that many other tourist destinations still needed promotion, especially for Chinese tourists, and therefore in the short-term "we would offer Yogyakarta, Lombok and Labuan Bajo to them."

"Bali, indeed, is unique, but other regions must not copy it. Just present what is interesting and package it attractively so tourists would come. Access is also important," she said.

The minister admitted that infrastructure has been the main challenge for all parties to overcome.

Mari said infrastructure in China's regions has been good, and so connectivity is no longer a problem there.

With regard to infrastructure, Mari said Yogyakarta is ready to accept tourists, and so is Lombok, while Labuan Bajo is improving.

Indonesia and China have agreed to increase tourist visits to reach two million by 2015.

Chinese tourists to Indonesia are expected to reach 800,000 this year.

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