Jakarta, Nov. 11 -- The governments of Indonesia and Saudi Arabia have begun talks to boost tourist exchanges in a bid to strengthen cooperation and pursue mutual growth in the tourism sector.

Indonesian Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana discussed potential collaborations with her Saudi counterpart, Ahmed bin Aqeel Al Khateeb, during a bilateral meeting in Riyadh on Saturday (November 8), according to a statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday.

"Since Indonesian visitors are among the largest contributors to religious tourism and pilgrimages in Saudi Arabia, we hope to see more Saudi tourists visiting Indonesia, a tropical country rich in natural and cultural heritage, especially during extended holidays," Wardhana said.

The mi...