News

SUNDAY, MAY 26, 2013

Sail Komodo to have long term advantages

The much awaited international marine event of Sail Komodo 2013 will have long term advantages for the people of East Nusa Tenggara province.

Expected to help improve the welfare of the local people in a long term basis, the annual event will also boost the tourism in East Nusa Tenggara, particularly in Komodo island.

"The result and benefit of Sail Komodo 2013 will not be directly enjoyed by the people in the province because it has long term advantages," the head of promotion at the Department of Tourism and Creative Economy, H.A. Haris, said in Kupang on Wednesday.

According to him, the result of the event would only be perceptible after its implementation. 

Sail Komodo, an annual international marine event that will take place in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, is part of the government`s efforts to promote East Nusa Tenggara as a world tourist destination.

Haris noted that the most important benefit of Sail Komodo was that the participants of the international marine event would become a funnel to promote various tourism potentials in the province upon returning to their respective countries.

Thus, all the tourism potentials in East Nusa Tenggara will be transit points for tourists from many countries around the world.

"We want to make East Nusa Tenggara a new world tourism destination, and that the Sail Komodo 2013 will be a good momentum for us to reach our desire," Haris said.

Therefore, in various occasions he continues to encourage the East Nusa Tenggara regional government and its people to ensure the sense of safety, security, and good impression for the Sail Komodo participants who will visit 21 districts/towns in the province in August 2013.

"Good impression must be instilled into the participants of Sail Komodo so that when they return to their respective countries they can tell to their families and relatives," Haris said.

He also called on the people of East Nusa Tenggara to welcome the event participants with friendly and generous behavior so that they can enjoy the natural beauty, cultural attractions, and tourist attractions in the province. 

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono has said Sail Komodo 2013 would help boost tourism in East Nusa Tenggara, and popularize Komodo island to attract both domestic and foreign tourists to visit.

"Sail Komodo is scheduled to take place in September 2013 and therefore we will continue to promote and advertise the event so that it can become known internationally," Agung said, adding that with the event, Komodo Island could become a popular international tourist attraction.

The minister said the local people have been trained to make handicraft souvenirs ahead of ahead of Sail Komodo to help increase their earnings.

Agung said the development of appropriate infrastructure facilities was currently taking place to support the international marine event that could have a positive impact on the local people.

Therefore, Rote Ndao district government and its people are now enthusiastically ready to welcome the implementation of Sail Komodo.

"We are ready to welcome the international marine event of Sail Komodo but unfortunately we lack funds to manage the locations that will be visited by the event participants," Rote Ndao District Head Leonard Haning said in Kupang recently.

He noted that tourism sector in Rote Ndao should continue to be improved in order to be as competitive as those of other districts in East Nusa Tenggara.

"Sail Komodo 2013 will be an important event because its participants from around 129 countries are going to visit many districts in the province," Haning said.

He added that all districts and towns in East Nusa Tenggara had been ready to welcome the event and to make it a great success.

"Rote Ndao is one of the destinations for the Sail Komodo participants," Haning went on.

Meanwhile, East Nusa Tenggara Governor Frans Lebu Raya has asked the Rote Nadao district government and its people to fully support the success of the upcoming international marine event.

Governor Lebu Raya said in Kupang recently that the Rote Ndao people should support Sail Komodo by being friendly to the event`s participants, in addition to providing them with the facilities they will need.

"I ask the Rote Ndao district government and its people to support the event that will be based in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai district, and to make it a success," Lebu Raya said.

The governor said the participants of Sail Komodo would stop at Rote Island to enjoy the beauty of Nembrala beach which used to be the location of world surfing event.

Besides, they also want to see traditional Sasando music performance in Rote Ndao.

"Be friendly to Sail Komodo participants and provide them with whatever facility they want so that they can feel at home and stay longer in Rote Ndao," the governor said, adding that the longer the sail participants stay, the greater advantage the local people will have.

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THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2013

Indonesia Appoints Hume Whitehead as first Tourism

Representation Office in the U.K

As concrete step to expand Indonesia’s tourism market in the United Kingdom, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has appointed Hume Whitehead as The Representation Office in the U.K , following a competitive five-way pitch.

The appointment marks the very first time Indonesia has had an office based in the UK and demonstrates the country’s commitment to the market and recognition of its contribution to its tourism economy. The agency has been tasked with raising the profile of Indonesia as a desirable travel destination and increasing visitation from the UK and Ireland.

Effective immediately, the contract will involve the agency working closely with the travel trade to increase and refine distribution of Indonesia’s product offers and increase awareness of Indonesia as a destination to assist and drive sales. Additional tasks will include marketing, promotion and public relations to maximize share of voice for Indonesia in the media as well as partnerships with provincial and regional Indonesian government tourism offices, such as Bali Tourism Board, Yogyakarta Tourism Board and Batam Tourism Board.

The co-founder of Hume Whitehead, Richard Hume will head up the account with the support of Sarah Habicht as Pr Director, and Sandra Kwan as the Trade Sales and marketing Manager. On its press release, Hume commented: “This is a very prestigious account and we are absolutely thrilled to add such a fantastic country to our growing tourist board portfolio”.  Indonesia is an incredible tourist destination as it is a tropical archipelago in South East Asia with more than 17,000 islands that includes Bali which is known as the Island of the Gods

Ms. Esthy Reko Astuti, Director General for Tourism Marketing of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy added: “We are delighted to be working with Hume Whitehead as our official tourism representation office in the U.K. The team impressed us with their extensive experience of the travel and tourism industry, especially in relation to Asia; and their passion and enthusiasm for great client service. We are confident they will deliver excellent results in one of our most important markets”.

Including the UK office, Indonesia now has 14 overseas tourism representation offices, known as Visit Indonesia Tourist Offices (VITOs), in 13 countries. They are in Australia, two in China, namely in Beijing and Guangzhou, France, Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, the Middle East, the Netherlands, South Korea, Russia, Singapore and the UK.