THE MINISTRY of Tourism and Creative Economy is collaborating with the Indonesian Trade and Economic Office (KDEI) in Taipei to promote Bali and 5 Super Priority Destinations (DSPs) at the Wonderful Indonesia Pavilion at the Taipei International Tourism Fair 2023 (TITF 2023) on 3-6 November 2023.
The Wonderful Indonesia Pavilion will occupy an area of 36 square meters in Hall 1, Booth number J2107 Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Taiwan by presenting 4 tourism industry players consisting of travel agents and tour operators as well as beach clubs, representing Bali and the Five Super Priority Destinations.
According to the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, in his statement in Jakarta, Friday (3/11/2023), said Indonesia has so many things to offer the Taiwanese market. Apart from Bali, Indonesia is also developing five new super priority destinations, namely Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Borobudur in Central Java, Mandalika in Nusa West Southeast (NTB), Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), and Likupang in North Sulawesi, which are ready to welcome tourists from all over the world.
“The number of tourist arrivals from Taiwan in the first eight months of 2023 increased 1,066.5% year-on-year, with arrivals reaching 100,735 from January to August 2023 (8,635 from January to August 2022). This number has exceeded the target of 55,500 Taiwanese tourist visits this year. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of Taiwanese tourists to Indonesia was 207,490 in 2019,” Sandiaga affirmed.
Furthermore, Minister Sandiaga hopes that the Wonderful Indonesia Pavilion at the Taipei International Tourism Fair 2023 can increase tourist visits from Taiwan to Indonesia.
“And we hope that later when they visit Bali, Taiwanese tourists will extend their stay, and can continue their journey to other destinations in Indonesia. They will have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of beautiful natural scenery combined with the various unique cultures of the people. Our co-exhibitors are ready with packages and itineraries for Taiwanese tourists to explore super priority destinations and other beautiful parts of Indonesia,” Sandiaga remarked.
Meanwhile, Deputy for Marketing at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Ni Made Ayu Marthini, encouraged airline partners to reopen direct flights from Taiwan to Bali and other routes in Eastern Indonesia, such as Lombok, Labuan Bajo. So, this can attract Taiwanese tourists to visit Bali and the 5 DSPs.
“Therefore, we strongly encourage airline partners to reopen routes and meet passenger capacity, at least equivalent to pre-pandemic levels. More direct flights will make it easier for more Taiwanese tourists to visit Indonesia,” she said.
Likewise, the Director of Regional Tourism Marketing I (Asia-Pacific) of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Wisnu Sindhutrisno, added that Indonesia’s participation in TITF is expected to bring more Taiwanese tourists to Indonesia to reach the target of 8.5 million foreign tourist visits in 2023.
“This is one of the concrete steps taken by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/Baparekraf to show its commitment to facilitating highly curated tourism and creative tourism actors in establishing business partnerships and conducting onsite negotiations with potential buyers,” Wisnu noted.
Furthermore, in line with Ms. Made’s statement about connectivity, Wisnu added that existing regular EVA Air and Air China flights have supported the increase in the number of Taiwanese tourists to Indonesia via direct (non-stop) flights from Taipei to Indonesian destinations, such as Jakarta and Bali.
“Apart from that, Festour Travel Agency, one of the co-exhibitors at the Indonesia booth (TITF 2023), proposed a charter flight for the Citilink Bali-Taipei-Bali route. It is planned for the first flight on January 20, 2024. The target for February to April 2024 is 2,000 pax,” concluded Wisnu. [traveltext.id]