ER
TOURISM industry players, including travel agents, are optimistic that interest in traveling in the country will increase in 2021 following the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program to end the pandemic and the National Economic Recovery (PEN) program.
According to Mariani Tjan said a travel agent business that oversees Dwidaya Tour, said that when the COVID-19 vaccine began to be distributed, requests to travel abroad began to arrive even though they were still waiting for the latest regulations.
“I can handle corporate, there is already a request for 2021, but mostly Q3 ask to Korea and Japan even though it hasn’t been opened yet but we’ve already requested there and have been answered, they think after the vaccine can run,” said Mariani.
She explained, not only that, Mariani also said that his party had been asked to make a travel plan to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup. We have already asked for the World Cup, there is a large cosmetic company, he has asked us to make 1,000 people go to Qatar.
“During the pandemic period, overseas travel was practically non-existent, except for the regions of Turkey, Dubai and the Maldives,” she noted.
Meanwhile, for domestic destinations, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has determined five super priority destinations, namely Lake Toba (North Sumatra), Borobudur (Central Java), Labuan Bajo (East Nusa Tenggara), Likupang (North Sulawesi), and Mandalika (Nusa Tenggara). West).
However, there are not too many domestic trips that use travel agents, because on average local tourists do not need guides and reservations for hotels and tickets, especially now that the trend is mostly through road trips or road trips.
Mariani added that of the five super priority destinations, the most chosen were Labuan Bajo and the Yogyakarta area and its surroundings, but the enthusiasts were more than companies. Individuals and families prefer to walk alone.
“Most of them are Labuan Bajo if they are corporate. Raja Ampat, Sumba too, Yogya,” Mariani affirmed.
Likewise, the Secretary General of the Indonesian Travel Agents Association (Astindo), Pauline Suharno, said that Indonesians are quite confident when making visits to domestic tourist destinations, while many abroad still need guides and to manage travel plans.
“Because if their fellow Indonesians will not have any more difficulties overseas. Astindo regularly provides training to introduce tourist destinations in Indonesia, especially on super priority destinations. Agent friends know the routes of Singapore, Japan, Korea best. Now we are introducing local destinations to frontliners,” Pauline noted.
Pauline added, we have members all over Indonesia, because now we can’t sell, so let’s just introduce products. 2021 is a year full of challenges and hopes for tourism industry players. Government regulations also become a reference for travel agents to move.
“We really support the government’s efforts to tackle COVID-19, but it must be accompanied by community discipline,” she concluded. [antaranews/photo special]
