Indonesia Tourism has witnessed a growth of 21 per cent from the India market in 2016. From January to May 2017, the destination has already welcomed around 200,000 travellers from India. With this growth, India has now become the sixth largest source market displacing South Korea.
Speaking about the new development, Vinsensius Jemadu, Director for Asia Pacific Tourism Promotions, Ministry of Tourism, Indonesia said, “India with the rise in aspiring middle class traveller and robust economic growth has become a potential contributor to the inbound tourism to Indonesia and in particular to Bali. Indonesia recorded a 21 per cent increase in Indian arrivals and during January to June this year we have received around 200,000 Indian tourists making it the sixth largest source market. In Bali, the total number of India arrivals has increased over 35 per cent every year in the past six years. We are hopeful Indians will equally value Badung as their preferred destination in Indonesia.”
Badung Tourism promotion Board partnered with Ministry of Tourism, Indonesia to organise India sales mission. The Total number of arrivals from India to Bali has increased over 35 per cent and Badung Tourism contributes to 65 per cent of Bali total tourism income. Badung Tourism Promotion Board has appointed Dhiraj, MD, Air Guru Travel Solutions as the Honorary Representation of Badung Tourism Promotion Board in India.
Speaking about India market Saut Siringoringo, Consul-General of the Republic of Indonesia, Mumbai said, “We are showcasing Indonesia in five cities in India; India is a very strategic source market for us. We will be now promoting 10 new destinations in India apart from Bali. We are also now improving the tourism infrastructure in the nation to attract more footfalls.”
Rai Suryawijaya, Chairman of Badung Tourism Promotion Board said, “The appointment of Dhiraj as Honorary Representative of Badung Tourism Promotion Board is a serious effort of BPPD Badung to promote Badung tourism to the Indian market in accordance to the significant growth of the visitor from India.”
Speaking about the strategies for the coming years, Jemadu said, “We have three main pillars for promotions. First is digital, we are very aggressive on digital platforms. We have tapped the entire online and offline media in China which has proven successful for us. We will replicate similar model in India as well. Next, we are now aggressively looking to develop home stays in Indonesia. In India, we are in process to tie-up with MakeMyTrip and also other agents. We are in discussion to partner with Airbnb to promote the home stays.”
Indonesia is also looking at increasing the air connectivity. “We have already connected India and Indonesia with Air Garuda and AirAsia in India. Last week, we have inaugurated Batik Air flight to Chennai. We will soon introduce another flight from Medan to Chennai.”
Indonesia and Badung Tourism are also looking to establish a training programme for travel agents in India. The destination is in discussion with Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) to extend support to introduce a model in India. “One of the weaknesses which we have seen is that we haven’t worked on any educational model for the Indian travel trade. There is a huge potential in India but maybe agents don’t know how to sell our products. This year by November we will introduce some online and offline models to educate the travel agents in India. We are already in discussions for this.”
Sampat Damani, Chairman-Western Region, TAAI said, “TAAI has always made efforts to partner with destinations. Today we are partnering with Badung tourism to educate our members about the destination, so that they can sell the products more efficiently.”
