Indonesia launches ‘Sales Mission’ in Kathmandu to attract Nepali tourists
The sales mission was a collaborative effort between the ministry, the Indonesian embassies in Bangladesh and Nepal, and over 30 companies from the tourism sector.
KATHMANDU: Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, along with related agencies, recently launched a sales mission in Kathmandu, aimed at reinforcing Indonesia as a favored destination for Nepali tourists.
The sales mission was a collaborative effort between the ministry, the Indonesian embassies in Bangladesh and Nepal, and over 30 companies from the tourism sector.
This initiative comes in light of the growing number of Nepali tourists visiting Indonesia, with the Indonesian tourism agency reporting a surge in the country’s popularity among Nepalese travelers.
In fact, the number of Nepali tourists visiting Indonesia in 2023 increased by a remarkable 186% compared to 2022.
Furthermore, from Jan to July 2024, tourist arrivals from Nepal saw a 70.48% rise compared to the same period in 2023, with a total of 5,058 visitors. This trend reflects Indonesia’s growing appeal, with a 91.9% increase in inbound tourism from Nepal during the same months of 2023.
Speaking at the event, Indonesia’s Deputy Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy, Ni Made Ayu Marthini, expressed her excitement over the increasing interest from Nepali tourists. She highlighted that Indonesia would continue to promote itself through sales missions and awareness campaigns to further boost these numbers.
Marthini also mentioned that Indonesia is becoming increasingly popular among Nepali tourists, particularly as a destination for adventure tourism. However, two key challenges remain: connectivity and visa issues.
While there is no direct flight from Nepal to Indonesia, she encouraged travelers to utilize existing connections through major hubs like Malaysia and Singapore.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that airlines such as Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia, and Nepal’s Himalaya Airlines, along with other international carriers like those from Singapore, Vietnam, and Bangkok, offer viable routes to Indonesia.
Responding to concerns over the cost of visa fees, she noted that despite the fee, Indonesia’s travel packages remain competitively priced compared to other destinations.
During the “Wonderful Indonesia Sales Mission” in Kathmandu, five new destinations beyond Bali were showcased, including Lake Toba, Borobudur Temple, Mandalika, Labuan Bajo, and Likupang, identified as Indonesia’s five super-priority tourism spots.
Additionally, new tourism products catering to Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE), family holidays, weddings, honeymoons, and luxury travel were introduced.
The sales mission also promoted Batam and Bintan as easily accessible destinations, being less than an hour from Singapore. These destinations offer attractions such as the Blue Lagoon and water sports. Other promoted areas included Bandung, now reachable from Jakarta in just 30 minutes via high-speed rail, and Mount Bromo, accessible via a one-hour flight from Bali to Surabaya airport.
During her visit to Nepal, Deputy Minister Marthini, along with the Indonesian Ambassador to Bangladesh and Nepal, Heru Hartanto Subolo, met with Nepal Tourism Board officials.
They discussed strengthening collaboration between the two countries’ tourism sectors and reiterated their commitment to facilitating easier access for Nepali tourists to Indonesia.
The sales mission underscored Indonesia’s ongoing efforts to create a seamless travel experience for Nepali tourists by building stronger ties with key stakeholders.
