Indonesia sponsors World Travel Market London 2016

Indonesia has signed a key sponsorship deal with World Travel Market London 2016 as the country plans to promote its Wonderful Indonesia brand on a global platform.

The Indonesian Government has set a target of 20 million international visitors by 2019, almost double the 10.4 million figure for 2015, and has changed rules for tourism visas and cruise ships to make visiting the country easier.

“WTM is the biggest, most important global travel market in the world,” said Tourism Minister Arief Yahya. “With WTM’s unparalleled reach - 50,000 travel professionals from 183 countries in 2015 - and its ability to generate business, Indonesia considers WTM as a ‘must attend’ exhibition. WTM enables us to promote our message of Wonderful Indonesia in a cost-efficient and effective manner to decision-makers and influencers from around the world.”

About 150 delegates from 53 companies in Indonesia will attend WTM London (7-9 November 2016) in order to promote attractions such as beach holidays in Bali, UNESCO World Heritage Sites at Borobudur Temple and Prambanan Temple in Java, diving at unspoiled Raja Ampat in Papua, golf courses, spas and shopping in Jakarta and Bandung.

“Indonesia is ready to welcome the world with free visas on arrival for citizens of almost all countries; new airports and seaports being built or upgraded throughout the country and simplified cruise ship regulations to encourage the growth of cruising in our unique archipelago of 13,000-plus islands,” added the Tourism Minister.

Granting more tourists free access means Indonesia will lose an estimated $ 11.3 million from visa fees each year, but the move is expected to attract an additional 450,000 foreign tourists annually, generating an additional $ 500 million in additional foreign exchange revenue.

Furthermore, the number of visitors is seeing double-digit growth, with the 2015 arrivals figure of 10.4 million being more than 10% up on 2014. UK arrivals topped 280,000, an increase of more than 21% on 2014, and 2016 figures are showing strong growth too. Visitors from the UK and EU markets stay in Indonesia an average of 10 days or more and are regarded as “high spenders”.

WTM London Senior Director Simon Press said: “WTM London is delighted to welcome Indonesia as its registration sponsor in 2016. The destination has a wonderfully diverse tourism offering, and is making positive changes to attract millions more visitors, so its heightened profile at WTM London will help it to achieve those ambitious goals.”

Indonesia’s foreign tourist arrivals up 20% in July

Jakarta (Reuters): Indonesia attracted 931,694 foreign tourists in July, up 20.13% from a year earlier, the statistics bureau said.

The pace of increase was much faster than in June, when there was only a 0.78% annual rise.

During July, the biggest source of visitors was China, with almost 60% more than a year earlier.

The total number of visitors in July, including those passing through Indonesia’s borders from neighbouring countries and foreign workers with permits for less than one year, was 1.03 million, up 17.68% from a year ago.

Indonesia’s Government wants to expand tourism to help reduce the country’s reliance on exports of raw commodities.

The Government aims to attract 20 million visitors a year by 2019, more than double last year’s 9.73 million.