Kemenparekraf Holds Famtrip For South And Central Asian Tourism Companies

Tourism business actors (TA/TO) from South and Central Asia (Asselteng) (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/The Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Kemenparekraf/Baparekraf) held an introduction tourism program (Fam Trip) for tourism business actors (TA/TO) from South and Central Asia (Asselteng) to Bali and Lombok.

Deputy for Marketing at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Ni Made Ayu Marthini, in his statement, Wednesday (23/10/2024), said that this activity was carried out through a collaborative marketing scheme (collaborative marketing) and the synergy of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/Baparekraf with multi stakeholders including the Indonesian Representative Office (KBRI and the Indonesian Consulate General in Indonesia), airlines, hospitality industry, tourist travel businesses (TA/TO), restaurants, and tourist attractions from within and outside the country.

"This famtrip activity aims to maintain Indonesia's existence as a top of mind destination in foreign countries, especially in South and Central Asia," said Made.

The Fam Trip is divided into two batches, namely batch-1 from 9 to 16 October 2024 for the Iranian and Pakistani markets. Then batch-2 on 13 to 20 November 2024 is planned for the markets of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

The locus of introductory tourism activities on batch-1 includes Lombok-Mandalika and Bali destinations, and will end with a business gathering/tabletop as a business meeting between companies from South Asia and Central Asia and Indonesian tourism industry partners.

The implementation of the batch-1 famtrip was attended by 15 travel agents/order operators from Iran and Pakistan as well as two media from Pakistan, taking the Lombok locus to promote the Lombok-Mandalika super priority tourism destination (DPSP).

"The character and market profiles of Iran and Pakistan are believed to be suitable for destinations that have won the title of the World Best Halal Tourism Destination and the World Best Halal Honeymoon Destination. Meanwhile, the selection of Bali is one of the entrances for foreign tourists and hubs to various other Indonesian destinations," said Made.

Asselteng famtrip activities for Iran and Pakistan are carried out through a collaborative marketing scheme with the Indonesian Embassy in Tehran, the Indonesian Embassy in Islamabad, Tria Uma Tours & Travel; A&T Holidays, Pullman Lombok Mandalika Beach Resort, Bali Mandira Beach Resort & Spa, The Anvaya Beach Resort Bali, and the Bali Sunset Road Convention Center (BSCC).

While in Lombok, famtrip participants visited three Gili Islands to enjoy snorkeling activities by witnessing underwater beauty in the waters of Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Gili Meno. On the following day, participants were invited to visit the Setokel Benang waterfall and Kelambu thread. Then continued by visiting Ende Traditional Village, Tanjung Aan (Merese Hills) and a visit to the Mandalika International Circuit, the venue for one of the MotoGP motorcycle racing championship series.

In Bali, the participant's journey began with a visit to Ulun Danu Berasan Temple in Bedugul and Tanah Lot Temple in Tabanan. Then the next day the participants were invited to experience the excitement of watersport activities in the Tanjung Benoa area, followed by enjoying the beauty of Melasti Beach, and closed by watching the Kecak Dance performance at Uluwatu Temple. The series of famtrip agendas then ended with a business gathering with Indonesian tourism industry partners.

Made hopes that this activity can have a significant positive impact on increasing the number of tourist visits, especially from South Asia and Central Asia.

As of August 2024, it was recorded that the number of Iranian tourist visits to Indonesia had reached 6,447 arrivals, or an increase of 41.04 percent from the same period in 2023. Meanwhile, tourist visits from Pakistan to August 2024 had reached 13,196 or an increase of 56.15 percent compared to the same period in the previous year. With enormous and significant growth, tourists from Iran and Pakistan have great potential to be worked on.

"We need to continue to encourage the achievement of visits by Iranian and Pakistani tourists with various promotional activities, such as famtrip and Business Gathering activities, so that foreign tourists from South and Central Asia can continue to increase," said Made.

Furthermore, Ni Made said that the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy will continue to carry out various marketing efforts through a collaborative marketing scheme with tourism stakeholders both from within and outside the country, including airlines, TA/TO, hotels, and other stakeholders.

This "Famtrip is expected to have a positive direct impact on the community and business actors of the Indonesian tourism industry, especially since this activity ends with Business Gathering as an event to facilitate meetings between travel companies from market countries and Indonesian tourism industry partners," said Made.