A NEW event designed to give Indonesia a stronger footing in the global travel market has been launched alongside the Southeast Asia Business Events Forum.
The Wonderful Indonesia Tourism Fair (WITF) 2024 debuted at Swissôtel PIK2, part of a new development in north Jakarta being primed as a new destination with waterfront developments and easier access to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. The area will also be the location for the new Nusantara International Convention Exhibition, which is set to open in September 2025.
WITF is an Indonesian Tourism Industry Association (GIPI) initiative and backed by the country’s Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.
Nearly 200 buyers from 28 countries are expected at the event, which was co-located with Southeast Asia Business Events Forum (SEABEF). In addition to promoting Indonesia’s up-and-coming destinations, tourism officials want to follow up any success on the FIT (family and independent traveller) front with building a stronger proposition for international business event organisers through the SEABEF and other channels.
Tourism ministry promotions held through the week showcased hotels and event venues in the east Java city of Surabaya, followed by Bandung and Jakarta. The mountain retreats of Bandung are now connected to the capital with Indonesia’s first high-speed rail service, the Whoosh. Journey times between Bandung and Jakarta have been reduced to about 30 minutes compared to three hours by road.
With a focus on the future of tourism in Indonesia and globally, WITF2024 is being positioned as an annual platform for generating new ideas, building networks, and exploring business opportunities.
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Topics include latest travel technologies, sustainable tourism innovation, and Indonesia’s leading cultural destinations. Sessions tackled digital transformation, sustainable tourism, and post-pandemic recovery strategies, among other issues.
“The Wonderful Indonesia Tourism Fair 2024 is a significant milestone to strengthen Indonesia’s tourism industry by showcasing various tourist destinations and hosting international-scale MICE and events,” said Hariyadi Sukamdan, chairman of the Indonesian Tourism Industry Association.
Ni Made Ayu Martini, Deputy of Marketing from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, said: “We fully support the Wonderful Indonesia Tourism Fair 2024 as a crucial event to enhance Indonesia’s tourism image worldwide. This event not only showcases leading destinations but also fosters international collaboration in creating more sustainable and innovative tourism.”
