MAS pushes passenger growth in Indonesia
MAS pushes passenger growth in Indonesia
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Eyeing higher revenues from Indonesians, Malaysia Airlines
System (MAS) is intensifying its promotion and advertising here
by, among others, organizing a travel fair in September that
would provide numerous discounted travel packages.
The fair will be taking place at the Jakarta Convention Center
from Sept. 23 to Sept. 25 -- the first-ever Malaysian Airlines
Travel Fair (MATF) to take place outside Malaysia, the carrier
said on Friday.
Dato Rashid Khan, MAS senior general manager for sales,
distribution and marketing, said the fair aimed at strengthening
MAS' business relationships with both customers and business
partners from Indonesia.
"This is the first time such a travel fair has been held by
any airline operating here. We organized it because Indonesia
holds a vast potential market for us," he said on Friday.
About 40 travel agents are expected to take part in the event.
MAS has held two travel fairs in Malaysia so far.
Last year, the fair took place in Kuala Lumpur, attracting
more than 120,000 visitors. While in February, a MATF was held in
Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kuching, Sarawak, and Kota Kinabalu,
attracting 71,000 visitors.
"Even if only 5 percent of Jakartans (a city with population
of about 8 million) come to the exhibition, it will already
exceed the number of visitors in the previous exhibitions we held
in Malaysia," said MAS Area Manager for Indonesia Dzulkefli
Zakaria.
Dzulkefli also said that the event would support the company's
target of boost this year's revenue by 15 percent from the 1.7
million ringgit they earned in Indonesia last year.
He said last year MAS transported 14,422 people in 76 flights
from seven destinations around the country.
MAS Assistant General Manager for Advertising, Promotions and
Branding Yazid Mohammed said the company was trying to create a
brand image among Indonesians and therefore would not hesitate to
invest in promoting its products and services.
The carrier has allocated $1 million for advertising.
"The funds will purely be spent for 'above the line
communications', such as advertising in electronic and print
media. That is to show the level of commitment from MAS," Yazid
told The Jakarta Post. (006)