Tourism bodies ready to lure in Asian tourists

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Tourism Promotion Board (BPPI), in cooperation with national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (ASITA) and Singapore Airlines (SIA), launched special travel packages yesterday to attract tourists from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.

BPPI managing director Wuryastuti Sunario said the travel packages, which would be marketed to middle and upper-income groups in the three countries, were expected to strengthen Indonesia to become one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world.

The packages offered price discounts, but Wuryastuti said the discounts did not mean "we sell Indonesia cheaply".

She said Indonesia, which was now at the center of a monetary crisis, had to be more competitive to attract visitors, especially from Asian countries.

She said the currency crisis, which also hit other Asian countries, had resulted in a decrease in tourist arrivals from Asian countries to Indonesia.

The economic turmoil would continue to affect tourism, at least for the first half of this year, she said.

She said Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore were picked because the three countries were not badly affected by the currency crisis.

Wuryastuti said payment for the travel packages was based on local currencies.

"We have to adjust to the economic turmoil in order to lure visitors from the region again. One way of doing this is by using Asian currencies," she said.

The packages offer choice and flexibility, allowing customers to decide which airline they want to fly with, Garuda Indonesia or Singapore Airlines, with both charging the same price.

The packages offer three destinations -- Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Bali -- on a three-day, two-night tour, including round-trip tickets, four- or five-star hotel accommodations, breakfast and a half-day guided tour.

Wuryastuti said nine five-star hotels and 20 four-star hotels joined the packages due to the packages' middle and upper-income segment.

"The packages will be valid for three months, from Feb. 14 to May 15, after the busy exodus period to celebrate Idul Fitri and ending before the school holiday season in June," she said.

She said if the packages received a good response, they would gradually be extended, including in marketed countries, destination areas and participants. (gis)