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THE INDONESIAN Ministry of Tourism is participating in the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024, which will take place at Excel, London, England, on November 5-7, 2024. This is an effort to strengthen the achievement of the target of foreign tourist visits to Indonesia in 2024.
In her statement in London on Thursday (11/07), Deputy for Marketing Ni Made Ayu Marthini announced that the Ministry of Tourism is collaborating with the DKI Jakarta Province Tourism and Creative Economy Office and the Papua Barat Daya Province Youth, Sports, Tourism and Creative Economy Office to present the Indonesian Pavilion at WTM London 2024. The Pavilion will cover an area of 180 m² and will be located in Hall N9-220.
“We facilitate 46 tourism service businesses, including travel agencies and accommodation service businesses, across several provinces in Indonesia. Our collaborative marketing approach allows us to promote Indonesia as a top-of-mind destination from the outset,” said Made.
Made explained that England represents the primary market for European tourists to Indonesia, with the largest number of tourists reaching 267,403 during the period of January to August 2024. This figure represents a 19.55 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023, with France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Russia also showing significant growth.
In terms of spending, British tourists are a significant contributor, with an average expenditure of US$3,394 per visit, ranking them as the third largest in the world. “Based on the visit and spending data, we anticipate continued growth and are committed to providing optimal contributions to the Indonesian people until the end of the year,” Made affirmed.
Made stated that the tourism sector achieved promising results in 2023, successfully attracting 11.6 million international tourist visits, exceeding the target of 8.5 million by 98.3% compared to 2022.
In September 2024, the number of foreign tourist visits reached 1.27 million, with a total of 10.3 million visits from January to September. This represents a 20.28% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
“We are optimistic that we will achieve and even exceed our predetermined target for the last quarter of 2024, in part by leveraging the momentum of the world’s second largest tourism exhibition,” said Made.
The Indonesian delegation at the WTM London Tourism Exchange has adopted the theme “Keep the Wonders!” “Discover a new way of life.” This theme consistently promotes five Super Priority Destinations and Bali as one of the international hubs for Indonesian tourist destinations.
At this event, the promotion of Super Priority Destinations was again a key focus. This was done to provide tourists with alternative destinations so that they can further explore Indonesia and its many attractions.
The five Super Priority Destinations are Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Borobudur in Central Java, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), and Likupang in North Sulawesi.
Meanwhile, Cecep Rukendi, Director of Regional Tourism Marketing II, stated that in 2023 the European market recorded a market share of 17.4%, with England providing the most significant contribution, accounting for 335,000 tourist visits to Indonesia.
“Therefore, we are optimistic about achieving the target of a 20% increase above last year’s target, namely a potential pax of 110,000 people with tourism foreign exchange reaching IDR5.95 trillion,” Cecep stated.
In addition to the WTM London event, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy also held the Wonderful Indonesia Appreciation Night, which had a business meeting concept. Several TATO/Wholesaler partners at the origin, Indonesian Embassy representatives, diaspora, trade attachés, and members of the media were invited to attend the event to amplify its impact.
The objective of this event is to disseminate updated information regarding Indonesian tourism destinations and policies, foster improved relations between partners and stakeholders, and gather input to enhance the tourist experience in Indonesia.
The event also showcased Indonesian cuisine, including soto, rendang, and woku fish, prepared by Chef Patty Elliot, a renowned Indonesian chef, in line with the “Spice Up the World” initiative. Furthermore, the event featured performances of the Legong Mahawidya Dance (Bali) and Nandak Abnon from Betawi, showcasing the distinctive creativity of Indonesian culture.
Likewise, the Deputy for Marketing of the Tourism Ministry and the Indonesian Ambassador in London hosted the event to welcome all invited guests of the Wonderful Indonesia Appreciation Night.
Furthermore, in order to support the implementation of the Blue, Green, and Circular Economy (BGCE) and the Tourism Decarbonization Road Map, the Directorate of Special Interest Tourism, Deputy for Tourism Products and Event Organization of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/Baparekraf introduced the Wonderful Indonesia Sustainable Experience (WISE) Trip.
This program offers 25 tour packages from 10 selected agents/operators who prioritize quality tour packages and are committed to decarbonization through five main themes, including adventure & ecotourism, gastronomy, wellness, heritage, and marine. Each package is designed in accordance with the principles of sustainable tourism, including the calculation of carbon emissions through two carbon management platforms in Indonesia. These emissions are presented in the form of an e-book to assist tourists in reducing their carbon footprint. [traveltext.id]
