Indonesia Holds Sales Mission to Promote Border Tourism

Jakarta, InfoPublik – Indonesian Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry optimizes the promotion of Indonesia tourism in cross border area, particularly Timor Leste, by holding a sales mission involving a number of travel agents/tour operators.

Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry’s Assistant Deputy for Marketing Development I Regional III Muh Ricky Fauziyani, in his official statement received by InfoPublik, Monday (18/11) said, the sales mission that exhibits various interesting destinations in Indonesia was a follow-up of a number of existing programs for Timor Leste market.

"The sales mission is a follow-up to a series of familiarization trips to several super priority destinations we held earlier such as Labuan Bajo, Mandalika, Borobudur, Lake Toba, Bali, and Jakarta. Now it's Indonesia travel agents/tour operators’ turn to offer Indonesia tour packages to buyers in East Timor," said Ricky.

The Sales Mission was held at Suai Gala Room Timor Plaza Hotel & Apartement Dili, East Timor, on Thursday, 14 November 2019 and involved five Indonesian travel agents/tour operators, namely: Ace Travel, Sugar Travel, Antika Travel, Ayo Travel and Nusa Dua Bali Tours Travel.

These travel agents were met with a number of buyers from Timor Leste, including Obrigado Tours & Travel, Lagrima Travel, Fast Tour & Travel, Iana Tours & Travel, Uno Travel Dili, Gesano Tour and Travel, Fatubesi Travel, Orange Tour and Travel, Riir Travel, Ezgo Travel, and many more.

Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry’s Head of Subdirectorate of Marketing Area II Regional III Hendry Noviardi explained that the sales mission is part of Indonesia's tourism promotion strategy.

"This sales mission is a part of our series of activities to promote Indonesia. Previously, we held consumer selling activity, exhibition in Dili, as well as familiarization trips of Timor Leste travel agents/tour operators and media to super priority destinations. This sales mission is expected to increase potential value transactions between travel agents/tour operators of both countries," he explained.

Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry’s Marketing Development I Deputy Rizki Handayani said there are a lot of border area potential to be maximized especially after the opening of an international flight path from Dili to Kupang by Trans Nusa Aviation.

“This will facilitate tourists from Timor Leste since there are many choices of destination available. From Kupang they can proceed their trip to Labuan Bajo, Sumba, Kelimutu at Ende, Alor, Larantuka or Lembata to see whale attractions," said Rizki.

With various strategies carried out, it is hoped that tourist arrivals from Timor Leste will increase.

"What we have to think next is how to make tourists in cross border area stay longer so that their spending will also increase. That's our goal," said Rizki.

Reporter: Untung S

Translator: Sugiarti