The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is looking to raise arrivals from Indonesian this year – up from 2.3 million in 2023 – as it gears up destination promotions in more Indonesian cities.
Speaking at the Made in Singapore media event in Jakarta this week, Mohamed Hafez Marican, area director for Singapore Tourism Board in Indonesia, noted that the Indonesian travel market had a huge impact on Singapore’s travel and tourism industry recovery.
(From left) STB’s Mohamed Hafez Marican, STB Brand Ambassador Indonesia Anya Geraldine, and Singapore Ambassador for Indonesia Kwok Fook Seng
While he said “no specific numbers” have been set as target for 2024, he assured that the STB team aims to “achieve more” than it did in 2023.
To strengthen its positioning as a welcoming, Muslim-friendly destination for Indonesians, STB will take its destination marketing efforts deeper into Indonesia, beyond capital city Jakarta. Activations are planned for Medan, Surabaya, Bandung, and Makassar, including roadshows in Surabaya, Denpasar and Balikpapan, according to Hafez.
“We collaborate with ASITA Pariwisata, the association of Indonesia’s tour and travel companies, and the Indonesian Hajj and Umrah Travel Association (Amphuri) East Java chapter to develop tourism products and establish market presence in East Java and other cities outside Jakarta,” Hafez detailed.
According to Monas Tjahjono, chairman of ASITA Tourism East Java chapter, the collaboration is to introduce Singapore as a friendly destination to Muslims in East Java.
Meanwhile, Amphuri will make Singapore one of the destinations in Umrah-plus packages or as a stopover destination in Umrah/hajj packages.
Monas said: “There is a perception that it is difficult to find halal restaurants and hotels in Singapore. STB and ASITA Pariwisata want to correct this and convey that Singapore is a Muslim-friendly destination.”
ASITA Pariwisata will launch 3D/2N and 4D/3N halal tour packages to Singapore, with visits to Sultan Mosque and Kampong Glam. However, the main highlights will be halal restaurants in popular tourist places such as Orchard Road and Sentosa, remarked Monas.
New products and hidden gems, such as culinary tours of Lau Pa Sat food market and Rumah Toko Warisan Kami, will also be played up.
STB will intensify social media promotions to reach a wider audience and inspire travel through storytelling. Efforts will include collaboration with media and entertainment firms, as well as celebrities.
Editor’s note: The original news copy stated a target of four million arrivals from Indonesia this year, double of 2023’s figure. STB did not state a figure for its target. TTG Asia apologises for the error.
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is looking to raise arrivals from Indonesian this year – up from 2.3 million in 2023 – as it gears up destination promotions in more Indonesian cities.
Speaking at the Made in Singapore media event in Jakarta this week, Mohamed Hafez Marican, area director for Singapore Tourism Board in Indonesia, noted that the Indonesian travel market had a huge impact on Singapore’s travel and tourism industry recovery.
While he said “no specific numbers” have been set as target for 2024, he assured that the STB team aims to “achieve more” than it did in 2023.
To strengthen its positioning as a welcoming, Muslim-friendly destination for Indonesians, STB will take its destination marketing efforts deeper into Indonesia, beyond capital city Jakarta. Activations are planned for Medan, Surabaya, Bandung, and Makassar, including roadshows in Surabaya, Denpasar and Balikpapan, according to Hafez.
“We collaborate with ASITA Pariwisata, the association of Indonesia’s tour and travel companies, and the Indonesian Hajj and Umrah Travel Association (Amphuri) East Java chapter to develop tourism products and establish market presence in East Java and other cities outside Jakarta,” Hafez detailed.
According to Monas Tjahjono, chairman of ASITA Tourism East Java chapter, the collaboration is to introduce Singapore as a friendly destination to Muslims in East Java.
Meanwhile, Amphuri will make Singapore one of the destinations in Umrah-plus packages or as a stopover destination in Umrah/hajj packages.
Monas said: “There is a perception that it is difficult to find halal restaurants and hotels in Singapore. STB and ASITA Pariwisata want to correct this and convey that Singapore is a Muslim-friendly destination.”
ASITA Pariwisata will launch 3D/2N and 4D/3N halal tour packages to Singapore, with visits to Sultan Mosque and Kampong Glam. However, the main highlights will be halal restaurants in popular tourist places such as Orchard Road and Sentosa, remarked Monas.
New products and hidden gems, such as culinary tours of Lau Pa Sat food market and Rumah Toko Warisan Kami, will also be played up.
STB will intensify social media promotions to reach a wider audience and inspire travel through storytelling. Efforts will include collaboration with media and entertainment firms, as well as celebrities.
Editor’s note: The original news copy stated a target of four million arrivals from Indonesia this year, double of 2023’s figure. STB did not state a figure for its target. TTG Asia apologises for the error.