On Tuesday, 21 February, the Ministry for Tourism and Creative Economy signed an MoU with flag carrier Garuda Indonesia to join hands to actively market and promote Indonesia’s myriad attractions that are laid out across this vast archipelago in the tropics.

The MoU was signed by the Ministry’s Secretary General, Wardiyatmo and Garuda CEO, Emirsyah Satar, witnessed by Minister Mari Pangestu and Deputy Minister, Sapta Nirwandar.  

In the Memorandum, both the Ministry and Garuda agreed to support one another, further strengthen Indonesia’s national brand image, reach the national target of 8 million international arrivals this year, as well as induce Indonesians themselves to travel and discover the beauty of their own country.

Since Indonesia’s destinations are so widespread, connectivity between main and secondary destinations remains of utmost importance, said Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy, Mari Elka Pangestu, so that tourists do not stay at hub destinations only.

To further facilitate and promote travel throughout Indonesia, an innovative Indonesia Air Pass should be created to sell Indonesia’s many destinations. This year Indonesia aims to welcome 8 million international tourists, up from 7.6 million in 2011, while domestic visitors are expected to make 127 million trips, compared to 123 million last year.

On its part, Garuda CEO, Emirsyah Satar said that the airline is ready to create the Indonesia Air Pass even if other airlines are not yet agreed to the concept, since the airline already has the Garuda Orient Holiday subsidiary in Japan, China, the Netherlands, Australia and soon also in Taipei, who already package attractive tours to many parts of Indonesia with built-in incentives.

In the 90s, Indonesia had an Indonesia Air Pass program, but at the time this was only supported by Garuda and sister company, Merpati. But now that Indonesia has so many airlines, it is time that all these should also participate in the program, said Minister Mari Pangestu.

Meanwhile, in line with Indonesia’s policy to attract more visitors from Asia, Garuda this year has opened new domestic and international routes, including Surabaya-Bandung , Jakarta – Taipei and Denpasar – Haneda, Japan.

Garuda has also increased frequencies between Denpasar – Seoul from five times weekly to daily, Jakarta–Shanghai also up from five times weekly to daily flights , Jakarta – Beijing from three time to five times weekly and   Jakarta –Seoul from six times weekly to daily flights.  

And, to expand its network in 2012, Garuda Indonesia will receive and operate another 21 aircrafts, comprising four B737-800NG, two A330-200, five Sub-100 seat planes, in addition to ten A320 aircrafts for its LCC subsidiary Citilink.

 Besides this, Garuda Indonesia has since August 2009 launched the “Indonesian Hospitality” concept on board its planes, which is rooted in Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage, and branded as the “Garuda Indonesia Experience”

(sources: www.parekraf.go.id  and Garuda Indonesia press release)

Photo Courtesy: www.parekraf.go.id