Tourism bodies ready to lure in Asian tourists

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)