Indonesia holds sales mission programme in Kathmandu, promotes tourism for Nepali tourists

KATHMANDU: Indonesia's Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy held a sales mission programme in Kathmandu on Friday to promote the world's largest archipelagic state as a preferred destination for Nepali tourists. The event was a collaborative effort involving the Ministry, the Indonesian Embassy in Bangladesh and Nepal, and over 30 domestic tourism companies.

Post-pandemic, the number of Nepali tourists visiting Indonesia has surged. In 2023, there was a 186% increase compared to 2022. From January to July 2024, 5,058 Nepali tourists visited Indonesia, marking a 70.48% increase compared to the same period in 2023. In July alone, the number of Nepali tourists rose by 91.9% compared to July 2023.

During the opening of the Nepal Sales Mission 2024, Deputy Minister for Marketing, Ni Made Ayu Marthini, highlighted the positive trend of Nepali tourists visiting Indonesia. She emphasised the need for regular promotional activities and campaigns. "Although the numbers are not as high as other top origin countries, the increasing trend shows that Indonesia is becoming more popular among Nepali tourists and vice versa. Among Indonesian youth, Nepal is known for adventurous journeys," said Marthini.

Participants at the event identified two main challenges in attracting Nepali tourists: connectivity and visa requirements. Marthini mentioned that these challenges do not hinder promotional activities. "We do not yet have direct connectivity with Nepal, so we collaborate with tourism industries in cities or hub countries that have flights connecting Indonesia with Nepal."

Currently, Nepal is not eligible for visa on arrival in Indonesia, requiring Nepali tourists to pay more for a visa. The Indonesian Tourism Ministry assured Nepal's tourism industry that Indonesia offers 'best value for money' destinations. "When experiencing the beauty of Indonesia, it's all worth it," Marthini added.

The Sales Mission programme provided an opportunity for direct interaction with the Nepali tourism industry, fostering mutual understanding and introducing new destinations and policy updates from Indonesia.

During the event, five new destinations, including Bali, were introduced, along with five super priority destinations: Lake Toba, Borobudur Temple, Mandalika, Labuan Bajo, and Likupang. Other popular destinations such as Batam-Bintan, Bandung, and Bromo were also reintroduced. "We offer Batam-Bintan as an alternative destination from Singapore or Malaysia. Especially from Singapore, which is less than an hour by ferry to Batam-Bintan, this destination offers beauty and attractions such as a blue lagoon and water sports. This destination is suitable for South Asian tourists, including Nepalis travelling via Singapore," Marthini explained.

Bandung can be reached in 30 minutes from Jakarta, and Bromo is accessible within an hour's flight from Bali via Surabaya airport, Marthini mentioned.

Marthini, along with the Indonesian Ambassador to Bangladesh and Nepal, Heru Hartanto Subolo, met with the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) delegation to discuss efforts and commitments to strengthen tourism cooperation between the two countries. The event concluded with the presentation of batik cloth and Luwak coffee souvenirs from the Indonesian ministry to NTB executives.

The Indonesian Ambassador stated, "We continue to cooperate and collaborate with stakeholders to provide easy access for Nepalis wanting to visit Indonesia. With the presence of Indonesia's Honorary Consul, Chandra Prasad Dhakal, we hope to strengthen bilateral relations between Nepal and Indonesia and increase the number of Nepali tourists visiting Indonesia."

The Indonesian ministry committed to organising similar events and other promotional efforts in the near future.