Jakarta. Tourism Minister Arief Yahya and Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita officiated four-star El Royale Hotel in Banyuwangi, East Java, on Wednesday (21/06).

In his speech, Arief said the new hotel fulfills all the criteria required to attract tourists to the region, also for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) events, with its ballroom capable of hosting 1,300 people.

"We should take advantage of it [the ballroom] for as many MICE events as possible," Arief said, adding that MICE tourists spend twice more than regular tourists, which will benefit the whole region, also across other sectors than tourism.

"Banyuwangi has been [also] successful as a festival city, with 72 annual events," he said.

These events include "Tour de Ijen" cycling race, Banyuwangi Ethno Carnival and Gandrung Sewu mass dance performance.

Banyuwangi also has new tourist destinations: Cacalan Beach, Watugedek Sempu waterfall, Songgon pine forest and sharia-compliant Pusan Beach.

Meanwhile, the region's Blimbing Sari Airport is set to become a main entry port to the region, with its new terminal capable of receiving more than 250,000 passengers a year.

The airport, officiated in May, is currently audited by the Transportation Ministry's airport agency. By the end of 2018, it will have its runway expanded for B737-900 aircraft.

There are 76 hotels with around 2,400 rooms and more than 3,500 beds in Banyuwangi. The ministry is planning the construction of two more hotels — three-star Aston Hotel and four-star Singgasana Hotel.