Private sector drives Visit Wonderful Indonesia 2018

Indonesia yesterday launched Visit Wonderful Indonesia (VIWI) 2018, a campaign initiated by travel-related industries in Indonesia in a bid to achieve 17 million arrivals next year and 19 million mark in 2019.

Haryadi Sukamdani, chairman of the Indonesia Hotel & Restaurant Association (IHRA) and of the VIWI 2018 steering committee, said: “The government has been spending more than three trillion rupiah (US$222 million) on branding and marketing tourism since 2014. It is time for the private sector to convert that into sales.

Tourism minister Arief Yahya receiving the VIWI 2018 programme book from ASITA’s Asnawi Bahar

“Therefore, the private sector, through 16 related associations together with the Ministry of Tourism and regional stakeholders in the destinations, have formulated the VIWI 2018 programmes, highlighting 208 products and packages in 18 destinations in Indonesia.”

The products, which are being uploaded in stages and expected to be in full swing by January, can be accessed through the Ministry of Tourism’s www.indonesia.travel and, for hotel deals through bookingina.com.

Destinations are picked based on the readiness of access, attractions, amenities and for having excess capacity. They include five destinations in Sumatra, five in Java, Balikpapan in Kalimantan, three in Sulawesi plus Raja Ampat in Papua.

Products span three categories: Hot Deals, which will vary depending on the seasonality; Colours of Indonesia: Events & Festivals (packages bundled with tickets to events during low seasons); and Digital Destination products, a year-round offering of experience-based products.

Haryadi added the programmes have been curated in line with the marketing plans of the Ministry of Tourism, and that Visit Indonesia Tourism Officers overseas would help push the campaign.

Asnawi Bahar, chairman of the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) said: “The packages are created to target different markets in eight countries and regions. There are 62 packages for Europe, 13 Middle East, 31 South Asia, 18 China, 21 Japan and South Korea, 53 South-east Asia and 10 Australia.”

Apart from the 208 products, 63 companies – among which are souvenirs shops, food and beverage suppliers, land transportation and handicraft producers – yesterday also signed a co-event branding MoU with the Ministry of Tourism to support VIWI 2018. Apart from placement of the VIWI 2018 logo, these companies are also expected to come up with discounts or gimmicks to entice travellers.

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