Eastern Fleet warships based in Surabaya expressed readiness to promote tourist objects and destinations in Indonesia during their overseas trips.

"The Indonesian warship which often goes abroad is the training vessel KRI Dewaruci. Before leaving for Indonesia we often bring with us brochures and leaflets on tourist spots and destinations in East Java, but their number is limited," Naval spokesman Let Col. Drs Toni Syaiful, told Antara here on Friday.

According to him, such assistance to promote tourist objects was easy to give, because the naval personnel have only to bring the brochures on board their ship, and distributed them to every city they are visiting.

"Because of the limited number of brochures, only certain circles will receive them. I think promotion through the ship`s visits is very effective," he said.

He added that each time Dewaruci cast anchor in a harbour, the local population often asked the naval personnel about the tourist objects and destinations in Indonesia.

"The most important to know is that we are ready to disseminate information on Visit Indonesia Year 2008 in other countries. Thus, foreign tourists would not only become familiarized with Bali, but with other attractive tourist spots and destinations in the country as well," he said.(*)