Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (MoTCE) will be putting destination marketing campaigns on hold after its annual budget was slashed by 41.3 per cent to 2.02 trillion rupiah (US$140 million) from 4.9 trillion rupiah, as the government redirects funding to fight Covid-19.
The budget cut will affect some international marketing programmes, as well as the income of Visit Indonesia Tourism Officers (VITOs), the country’s overseas tourism marketing representatives.
Speaking at the parliamentary hearing on Tuesday (August 24), Sandiaga Uno, minister of tourism and creative economy, said the budget cut had resulted in the postponement of a number of promotional activities.
Sandiaga said: “(This) includes in-person meetings and road shows as well as domestic and international business trips.”
Nia Niscaya, deputy minister for marketing, said that while MoTEC would continue to attend virtual events such as ITB Asia, it would put on hold joint promotions with overseas business partners and familiarisation trips.
The government also announced on July 20 that the service fees for 19 VITOs in 14 countries will be terminated at the end of September. In response, 19 VITOs worldwide wrote a collective Letter of Support to the tourism minister, saying that they would continue their services free of charge until the end of the year.
A copy of the letter seen by TTG Asia stated: “VITOs have been the Ministry’s extended marketing arm and advocates in foreign land… (since 2005). Ending the programme now will not only mean losing the competitive edge against your competing destinations, (but) it is also akin to losing sight of your competitors’ movements and intelligence…, market trends (and) the pulse within the industry…”
Calling it “a shame” to end the VITO programme during this “crucial moment”, the VITOs volunteered to continue working without remuneration for the period of October till December and proposed that their service fees be reinstated in January 2022 with new budget allocation.
In the meantime, MoTCE will continue promoting its Cleanliness, Health, Safety and Environmental Sustainability certification programme, marketing tourism villages and the tourism stimulus programme for vaccinated travellers, as well as training talents in the tourism and creative economy sector.
The Qantas Group has launched a reward campaign dangling free flights, accommodation and fuel to Australians who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, in a bid to help boost the country’s immunisation rates.
From now until year-end, fully vaccinated Australian-based Frequent Flyers aged 18 and over can claim their reward through the Qantas App by choosing one of three options: 1,000 Qantas points, 15 status credits (which help Frequent Flyers move up between Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers), and A$20 (US$14.50) flight discount for Qantas or Jetstar.
Members will then be automatically entered into a mega prize draw to win a year’s worth of flights, accommodation and fuel. Ten mega prizes will be up for grabs with a winner selected from each state and territory and two mega prize winners as part of a national TV campaign.
Winners of ten mega prizes will receive a year’s worth of flights to take off to more than 60 destinations around Australia, with free accommodation across 345 Accor properties. They will also be able to top up their cars with free fuel from any of bp’s 1,400 service stations across the country.
Additionally, winners can take off to any Qantas and Jetstar international destination when borders reopen.
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the vaccine rollout is critical for protecting public health and key to breaking the cycle of lockdowns.
“Getting vaccinated is an important step that every Australian can take that brings us that little bit closer to life as we knew it. As the national carrier, we want to recognise those who have made the effort to protect themselves and the community,” he said.
“This is one of the biggest giveaways we’ve ever done. The impact of the pandemic on the travel industry and our own Qantas Group team members means we have a clear vested interest in the success of the vaccine rollout.
“Our crews can’t wait to get back to reuniting family and friends, taking people on holiday and putting some energy back into the whole tourism industry. For us, getting the vaccine rate up to 70 and 80 per cent means thousands of people can go back to work.
“With the federal government’s vaccine programme ramping up across the country, now is the ideal time to say thank you to Australians for stepping up and protecting themselves and others.”