WONDERFUL INDONESIA CAMPAIGN TO LURE MORE BRITISH TOURISTS by Fardah

Jakarta, May 30, 2016 (Antara)- Indonesia has been aggressively promoting its tourist destinations, arts, and culture in Great Britain over the past one year.  
      This year, Indonesia hopes to attract at least 300 thousand British visitors. The number of British tourists to Indonesia reached 230,315 in 2014 and increased to some 270 thousand in 2015.
       During the January-March 2016 period, the country received a total of 67,750 British tourists, or an increase of 28.54 percent from 52,708 people during the same period last year.

             The tourism ministry is optimistic that this year's target would be achieved through the intensified promotion of the Bali and beyond tourism program.
       Ten priority tourist destinations often referred to as "new Bali" are currently being promoted world-widely.

            They are Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Tanjung Kelayang in Bangka Belitung, Tanjung Lesung in Banten, Kepulauan Seribu (Thousand Islands) in Jakarta, Borobudur in Central Java, Bromo-Tengger-Semeru in East Java, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Wakatobi in South East Sulawesi, and Morotai in North Maluku.

         The latest promotional event in the UK was the two-day "Indonesian Weekend" that was organized successfully in Potters Fields Park, an iconic location in London, on May 28-29, 2016.    
   The Indonesian Weekend was part of the Wonderful Indonesia brand awareness campaign, Nia Niscaya, assistant to a deputy in charge of marketing in America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, in the tourism ministry, stated in London on May 30.

           Ambassador of Indonesia to the United Kingdom Rizal Sukma officially kicked off the Indonesian Weekend showcasing the country's arts and culture in Great  Britain, which has enjoyed visa-free facility from the Indonesian government.

            Highlights of the event included performances of Javanese dances by famous artist Ninik Thowok, Silat traditional martial art by Cecep Arif Rahman, traditional bamboo musical instrument by Arumba Saung Udjo, East Nusa Tenggara traditional music instrument Sasando by Ivan Nestorman, Javanese gong ensemble gamelan by Lila Bhawa, and an Islamic fashion show.

             The festival also offered Indonesian culinary delicacies as well as handicraft and fashion products.

             Initiated by Bangga Indonesia Ltd and Ditali Cipta Kreatif, the event is supported by Elzatta Hijab, the tourism ministry, and the Indonesian embassy in London.
   Other sponsors were the industry ministry, cooperatives and SMEs ministry, and the education and culture ministry in cooperation with the regional administrations of Central Java, Central Kalimantan, Bandung, and Malang.  
   Garuda Indonesia Airways also joined the event and offered special fares on certain routes, such as London-Jakarta, Yogyakarta, and Lombok.

             Some of the Indonesian culinary dishes offered during the event were Soto Ayam (chicken soup), chicken and lamb satay, Padang satay, Bakso (meat ball soup), Somai, Rendang, and Gudeg Yogya. .

             A cooking demonstration featuring Master-Chef Indonesia's jury, Degan Septoadji, and Chef Gede Susila Yadnya of Bali's Potato Head Club Bali was also the highlight of the tourism promotion event.

       Last November, the ministry had participated in the World Travel Mart (WTM), which is routinely held in London in November, according to Niscaya.

        Coinciding with the WTM, attended by at least 55 thousand visitors, the ministry advertised "Wonderful Indonesia" on some 200 taxis in London. Superside ads and internal branding promoted Indonesia's message around the city.

        Accompanied by Miss Tourism Indonesia 2014 Nawan Wulan Hanaf, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya was chauffeured in style at the WTM in a branded cab celebrating Wonderful Indonesia. This promotional stunt raised awareness of the beauty of the country.

                 "London Taxi Advertising is very proud of the fantastic campaign we've coordinated with Wonderful Indonesia, and it's brilliant that the Minister of Tourism was able to experience the city of London in the back one of our branded cabs. Indonesia's strong presence at the World Travel Market highlights what an amazing impact taxi advertising in the capital can have, with this new campaign really catching the eye of attendees at the WTM," Sales Director of London Taxi Advertising, Paul Tremarco, told the media.

             Earlier, from August to September 2015, the tourism ministry had organized "UK National Tour 2015 - Discover Indonesia" to promote Indonesia's tourist destinations, arts, and culture in London, Glasgow, and Cardiff.  
       The Indonesian government has set a target to annually attract 20 million foreign tourists, and 275 million domestic tourists in the next five years.

           The country hopes to earn up to Rp240 trillion in foreign exchange and create 13 million jobs in the tourism industry.

             This year, the ministry hopes to attract at least 12 million tourists, up from last year's target of 10 million tourists.  
     The tourism sector has employed some 11 million people and contributed foreign exchange worth around US$11 billion in the previous years. ***1***
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(T.F001/A/BESSR/F. Assegaf) 30-05-2016 16:40:32