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I REGION I ASIA I #IWD2023 Indonesia focuses on quality over quantity with innovative tourism packages H.E. Sandiaga Uno Minister of tourism and creative economy, Indonesia Indonesia's minister of tourism and creative economy, H.E. Sandiaga Uno speaks to ITB Berlin News about new and exciting plans for the destination in an exclusive interview. How has Indonesia’s travel and tourism industry performed in 2022? As the world’s health situation is getting better, Indonesia’s travel and tourism sector also bounces back. In 2022, the number of international visitors reached 5.5 million, a 251.28% increase compared with the total number of tourists travelling to Indonesia in 2021. You are looking to increase tourist revenue and privilege 'quality over quantity'. How are you planning to achieve this? We will continue to push tourism and creative economy players to create more innovative tourism packages, and add direct flights to increase international tourist travel to Indonesia. We are also introducing and promoting five super-priority tourism destinations to international tourists including Lake Toba and Likupang in Sumatra, Mandalika and Labuanin Bajo in Nusa Tenggara, and Borobudur in Java. They all rely on natural resources that has to be well taken care of by practicing sustainable tourism, which means quality over quantity. Indonesia continues its international presence this year by holding ASEAN Chairmanship 2023. Furthermore, it is actively hosting global events such as Superbike World Championship 2023 in March and MotoGP 2023 in November, Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship in February in Lake Toba, Bali Spirit Festival in May, and Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival in June. What are your objectives for this year and beyond? The government has set targets for the tourism and creative economy sector in 2023, which is 3.4 million to 7.4 million international visitors or USD 2.07 to USD 5.95 billion tourism foreign exchange value Hall 26 / Stand 114 34 ITB BERLIN NEWS • WEDNESDAY 8 TH MARCH 2023 www.itb-berlin-news.com
#IWD2023 I REGION I ASIA I Thailand to expand European market reach at ITB Berlin 2023 The Tourism Authority of Thailand is presenting its new campaign "Visit Thailand Year 2023: Amazing New Chapters". With a delegation of 70 Thai tourism companies, the country has made creating a more meaningful travel experience for international travellers its primary objective. Through its new marketing campaign ‘Visit Thailand Year 2023: Amazing New Chapters’, Thailand has refocused its tourism vision, placing emphasis on the promotion and development of high value and sustainable segments. As part its plans to increase tourism supply, Thailand is offering experience-based tourism products and leveraging its soft-power foundations, known as the 5Fs – Food, Film, Festival, Fight and Fashion. These will help create fresh travel experiences for international travellers while continuing to emphasise the country's strength, notably its nature and culture - the Thai people's unique way of life. For the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Yuthasak Supasorn, who is attending ITB Berlin, the country's new campaign "Amazing New Chapters" centres around the promise of "meaningful travel" and extending its tourism activities across the country on a year-round basis. With the industry's rapid recovery underway amid volatile global challenges, Thailand is expecting to reach US billion (THB2.38 trillion) in overall tourism revenue in 2023, representing a 80% return to prepandemic levels in 2019. Asked about the country's new "meaningful travel" concept, Mr Supasorn explains that "TAT wants to encourage travellers to discover something new. Lots of travellers these days want to see something different compared to the pre-covid times. We want then to focus on responsible tourism and give them the best options. We have the desire that tourists help to make a contribution to the society, to come here to make something which is better for the community or good for the environment." For the European markets, the country's tourism organisation is focusing on working with airlines to expand new routes and increase flight frequency. The agency wants to expand its European market presence to reach secondary cities and tap new segments and first visitors, as well as offer fresh new experiences with a particular focus on health tourism. Hall 26 / Stand 217 A THAILAND MINI MART 2023 INSIDE ITB BERLIN Among the many activities Thailand is hosting at ITB Berlin 2023 is the Thailand Mini Mart 2023, which will be taking place tomorrow, March 9 throughout the day. It involves a series of business meetings where Thai tourism suppliers and operators will present Thailand to new markets, having been identified as having great potential, such as the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania and Hungary. The Mart will be followed by socialising at the Thailand Mini Mart Happy Hour. Authentic experiences are expecting visitors across the country such as here at a Bangkok temple (Photo: LC/Cleverdis) ITB BERLIN NEWS • WEDNESDAY 8 TH MARCH 2023 35
