Indonesia Gives Australia a Taste of Bali and Beyond

The Sales Mission, Bali and Beyond, Australia-New Zealand event launched with over 50 travel and hospitality industry professionals at the Novotel Rockford in Sydney’s Darling Harbor last week. Continuing their “Visit Indonesia Year 2008″ campaign, the sales mission aimed to promote new and current Indonesian products and services to entice Australian’s to visit the “Island of the Gods” shores.

The night started with flowing wine and canapés before the attendees gathered to watch a traditional Balinese dance and listen to the many reasons to visit Bali and beyond. Speakers included Mr Siuaji Raja, Consul for Economic Affairs and Dr I Gde Pitana, Director for International Promotion from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Pitana pointed out the strong tourist numbers that Indonesia had been experiencing over the past few years, with 2007 welcoming overall an increase of 43.4% of tourists compared to 2006. The first quarter of 2008 has already seen 101, 115 visitors arrive at the country, and the government has set an estimated target of 380,000 visitors already. It was found, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the republic of Indonesia, that Australian’s rank as the 4th highest numbers of visitors to hit Indonesian shores, with Singapore, Malaysia and Japan respectively taking the top three places.

Pitana urged attendees to make Australians aware of the diverse experiences Indonesia offers, with over 500 ethnicities, 473 dialects, endless shopping, over 100 festivals and 25 international standardized golf courses, Indonesia as a product is “suitable” for the Australian market.

In regards to the safety and security that many Australians have had concern over, Pitana assured that these “issues” were “only issues, they are not correct”. He referred to the fact that the US had removed the Travel Ban from Indonesia three weeks ago, and that terrorism is a worldwide problem.

The sales mission also featured a Table top session where over 10 suppliers of products and services in Indonesia sat down with a new group of buyers every 7 minutes to explain their innovative and hospitality-driven ideas. To further drive the sales mission home, 38 industry practitioners offered special deals only for Australian and New Zealand agents, which included package deals and discounts at luxury resorts and hotels.

The night ended with a lucky draw for attendees, the winner taking home a 7-night package at one of Bali’s luxury resorts.

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