Discount card issued to revive tourism
Discount card issued to revive tourism
JAKARTA (JP): The government in cooperation with tourism-
related industries launched on Tuesday a discount card facility
in a bid to revive the country's ailing tourism sector.
Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Marzuki Usman, said the
discount facility offered under the Visit Indonesia Program (VIP)
Welcome Card is good for hotels, food and beverages, tourist
attractions and sport facilities in more than 250 establishments
nationwide.
Holders of the VIP Welcome card are entitled to privileges and
discounts of up to 20 percent for food and beverages in
participating restaurants and up to 75 percent for accommodation
in participating hotels.
Every VIP Welcome cardholder is also entitled to automatic
accidental death insurance for Rp 4 million and automatic
insurance for medical expenses resulting from accidents of up to
Rp 400,000 free of charge.
The cards will be sold at Rp 350,000 for Indonesians and
holders of temporary residential permits and will be sold at
US$75 for foreign tourists.
The program is jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism,
Arts and Culture, the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurant
Association (IHRA), the Indonesia Tourism Promotion Board and the
Indian Ocean Tourism Organization, in order to attract both
international and domestic tourists.
The privilege cards is produced by PT Singa Mas Perkasa
(Golden Lion).
"Let me express my gratitude to the Indonesian tourism
industry as they always create innovations not only to help
themselves but also the government and the country," Marzuki said
after the launching of the discount facility.
VIP Welcome's chief executive officer Chris Green, said the
program was different to previous joint tourism campaigns and
other discount cards launched by the private sector, as it was
created for individuals and covered a wider range of tourism
products.
He said the program was not likely to copy last year's Let's
Go Indonesia marketing and public relations campaign, during
which tourism-related industries offered bargain packages.
"It is very specific program that actually sells products and
it is more of a long-term program. Let's go Indonesia was merely
to let people know that we are still around and the other
programs were to advertise what we have done."
Green said that during the start-up phase, the VIP Welcome
cards will have more than 250 discounts available in hotels,
restaurants, health centers, golf courses and shops across the
country.
"We are picking up more discounts everyday. We plan to include
Pelni (state shipping company) and Perumka (state railway firm)
and also airlines."
Green said the program was being funded by the private sector
and through sponsorships in the start-up phase but running costs
would eventually be derived from the sale of the card.
He said the cards will be sold at Stanley Adams counters in
Matahari department stores in 35 locations in major cities across
the country. The program will also be marketed by telephone by
tourist board offices and through travel agents.
"We are also appointing agents overseas to sell the cards
through travel agents and tour operators."
IHRA's chairman Pontjo Sutowo said Indonesia's tourism
products have been very competitive due to the weaker rupiah
against foreign currencies.
"Right now all we have to do is to tell people that it is safe
and secure to visit our country," he said.
The country's tourist sector, badly hit since early 1997,
suffered an even deeper slump during and following the massive
riots in May last year, which prompted many foreign countries to
issue travel warnings on Indonesia for their citizens. (gis)