Indonesian airline Garuda (which recently announced it will buy 97 new aircraft by 2016, up from 36 originally planned) will not charge passengers to carry sports equipment. The announcement was made by the company's chairman Emirsyah Satar. The decision, valid for three years (with the possibility of extension), was taken by the airline with the blessing of the Ministry of Creative Economy and Local Tourism in order to promote sports tourism in the eastern country.
“We want to attract – explained Satar – more and more tourists interested in playing golf, or surfing and cycling in our country”. Minister Mari Elka Pangestu applauded the initiative, arguing that there are more and more foreigners coming to Indonesia to practice a sport against the backdrop of the country's beautiful landscapes. According to Mari, West and North Sumatra, West Java and Bali are ideal areas to develop sports tourism in Indonesia.
Also read the Jakarta Post
