BALI - makes comeback

TTGasia, Sep 29 - Oct 5, 2006 / No.1497

DEMAND for destinations beyond Bali has started to pick up, according to buyers and sellers at TIME 2006 in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

They said the classic Java-Bali overland tour was back on track as travellers’ confidence in Jogjakarta, post-earthquake, had returned.

Travel World Belgium managing director, Mr Thierry Rayee, said: “The overland tours came back immediately after getting confirmation that Borobudur was safe. We only stopped for about a month.”

He said the number of travellers to Indonesia grew by 34 per cent up to September, compared to the same period last year. “The Belgians stopped travelling to Indonesia a few years ago, but there is pent-up demand as the perception of Bali being safe returns. Besides, Bali’s products have developed so much in the past couple of years, the hotels are good.”

Fifteen-day trips consisting of one week each in Java and Bali are still the most popular among Belgians.

Similarly, Java-Bali overland tours continue to attract the Dutch group tours, according to Kuoni Travel Nederland. Tour operating east manager, Mr Andre van der Marck, said: “Although our year-to-date performance is down by five to six per cent, compared to the same period last year, things are looking pretty good. We have increased the number of pages in the Indonesia brochures, so we expect to see growth in winter.”

He projected a five per cent increase of business next year. “Garuda’s plan to start flying to Amsterdam (in June), which I hope will materialise, will help increase traffic.”

The lack of direct seat capacity and costly air fares have been hampering growth. “It takes 18 hours to get to Bali through Singapore or Bangkok. The air fare to Bangkok is €450 (US$576) and the air fare to Bali is between €700 to €800,” Mr van der Marck said.

Travel beyond Bali is also in demand for the German market. Bali-based Tunas Indonesia Tours and Travel manager, Mr Made Gede Wiyasa, said: “Together with our German partner, Sun Trips, we are developing products to South and North Sulawesi, combining Bali with Makassar and Manado for the summer 2007 brochure. “We have started selling the product for this winter and the response is positive, therefore we need to develop it further.”

Closer to home, there is also growing interest among Asian markets. Floressa Bali Tours managing director, Mr Paul Edmundus, said: “The Indian market to Bali has shown significant growth for us. We have been dealing with 20 business partners in India, and each sends 300 to 500 passengers a year.” He added they were interested in beaches, culture and ecotourism.

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