Indonesia is a favorite destination for millennial muslims

Indonesia is a favorite destination for millennial muslims

The Mastercard-HalalTrip conducts research on the motivations, habits, needs and preferences of Muslims. The survey of Muslim-based millenial tourist survey focuses on 372 respondents aged 18-36 years with various educational backgrounds and jobs living on five continents namely Africa, America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East.

The result, Indonesia is in second position, after Malaysia who was in first place. In addition, in position number three after Indonesia is Japan.

News and full results can be read in the article below (by thejakartapost):

Indonesia is second favorite destination among millennial Muslims

According to the result of Mastercard-Halal Trip Muslim Millennial Travel Report, Indonesia is the second favorite destination among millennial Muslims, with Malaysia crowned as the winner.

This shows that Indonesia’s status has improved from last year where it took the fourth spot.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya was grateful for the achievement and determined to topple Malaysia off the first place in the near future.

“Our emotional rival is Malaysia, while Thailand is our professional rival. We need to find ways to defeat our rivals and how to catch up with them,” Arief said.

The minister urged his team to make improvements, especially in human resources since Indonesians are still lacking in foreign language skill, “We are good at providing Muslim-friendly facilities. In fact, we took home 12 awards out of the 16 categories at the World Halal Tourism Award,” Arief said.

Below is the list of millennial Muslims’ favorite travel destinations according to Mastercard-Halal Trip Muslim Millennial Travel Report

1. Malaysia

2. Indonesia

3. Japan

4. Thailand

5. Australia

6. Singapore

7. United Arab Emirates

8. United Kingdom

9. United States

10. India

(asw)

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Legian Beach Festival to return to Bali

Legian Beach Festival to return to Bali

Bali is slated to host Legian Beach Festival 2017 from Oct. 11 to 15 at Padma Beach, Legian, Bali.

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The event is scheduled to hold fun activities such as fun bike ride, fashion show, food festival, wood ball cup, barong and dance performances and free surf training.

The opening ceremony of this event will feature Baleganjur Massal performance, cultural carnival and exhibition by artists from several different countries.

Visitors can also expect to watch a volleyball game between the locals and tourists.

During the festival, the committee is planning to launch Legian Entrepreneurs Community (HI.PEL) as well.

Legian Beach is a popular surfing destination thanks to its challenging waves and white sand beach.

The number of visitors to the annual festival always increases every year. In 2015, it attracted a total of 65,500 visitors and the number later went up to 83,500 visitors in 2016. (kes)

from: thejakartapost

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Indonesia promotes underwater destinations in Oman

Indonesia promotes underwater destinations in Oman

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Dozens of buyers flocked to the Travel Gathering of Wonderful Indonesia event held on Oct. 3 at Sheraton Hotel, Muscat in Oman, including 74 visitors from 48 travel agents in the Middle East.

The event was also attended by Indonesian Ambassador for Oman, Musthofa Taufik Abdul Latif.

Four sellers from Indonesia also participated in the event, namely Astadala Tour, Tambatan Hati Tours, Go Indonesia Tours and Travel in Style.

“Alhamdulillah, this event resulted in plenty of business transactions and it gives us valuable input from Oman’s travel companies about new potential market segments such as family, newlyweds and young travelers who love sports and challenges,” said the sales director of Astadala Tour, Ameer Brontoari.

Ameer also said that Indonesia is a favorite destination among the people of Oman, especially during summer as they enjoy the lovely weather and friendliness of Indonesian people.

“This is an opportunity to promote new destinations and priority programs such as underwater tourism, adventurous and cultural activities and development of local economy. Some of the guests have shown interest in the underwater beauty of Indonesia with destinations include Bali, Komodo Island and Raja Ampat. This could be a favorite among the Middle Eastern people,” added Ameer.

According to Nour Aridi of Visit Indonesia Tourism Officer (VITO), other Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia and Philippines are also currently promoting their underwater tourism and this is the right time for Indonesia to try to win over the Middle East market.

Tourism Ministry's deputy assistant for Europe, the United States, Middle East and Africa tourism promotion Nia Niscaya said that Indonesia has more than 700 diving and snorkeling spots with the popular ones are Sonegat, Keraka Island, Syahrir Batu Kapal Island, Hatta Island and Ai Island.

There are at least 20 diving spots available in Bunaken in North Sulawesi and Wakatobi National Park in Southeast Sulawesi, 88 spots in Lembeh Strait in North Sulawesi and three spots in Weh Island in Aceh.

Diving spots can also be found in Labuan Bajo, Komodo Island, Cendrawasih bay, Raja Ampat and Rinca Island in East Nusa Tenggara. Moreover, Alor sea has up to 50 diving spots and Derawan hosts around 28 diving spots.

“Indonesia is an archipelago country consisting of more than 17,000 islands and is the center of the coral reef triangle,” said Nia.

Additionally, Dive Magazine publication has listed five underwater spots in Indonesia in its top world diving destinations 2017 list, namely Raja Ampat in Papua, Alor and Komodo Island in East Nusa Tenggara, Lembongan in Bali and Lembeh in North Sulawesi. (kes)

from: thejakartapost

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Sail Indonesia 2017 participants arrive in Tanjung Kelayang

Sail Indonesia 2017 participants arrive in Tanjung Kelayang

After traveling to Buleleng in North Bali, participants of Sail Indonesia 2017 continued their trip to Tanjung Kelayang Beach in Belitung on Sept. 30.

“Belitung is awesome; everything from the white sand beach and huge granite rock to coral reefs and Laskar Pelangi Beach. Tanjung Kelayang is currently being developed as the 10 New Balis,” said Tourism Ministry's archipelago tourism marketing development deputy, Esthy Reko Astuti.

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“Belitung is targeting to welcome 87 yachts in 2017. As of Sept. 30, 40 yachts have already arrived," she added.

The group was reportedly welcomed with a performance of traditional dance and introduced to the bedulang eating tradition, “One tampah [large woven bamboo plate] can be consumed by four people,” said the ministry’s marine tourism department advisor, retired admiral Marsetio.

At night, the participants were treated with a gala dinner and a performance of Belitung culture.

“Last night during the gala dinner Mr. Allen and his wife from the United States said they were happy they could take part in Sail Indonesia even though they had been traveling by yacht for 10 years. They were very impressed with the culture and beauty of Indonesia,” Marsetio added.

The participants who hailed from Australia, Sweden, US, United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Virgin Island, New Caledonia, France, Norway and Poland will also take part in Sail Sabang 2017 slated from Nov. 28 to Dec. 7.

Apart from Tanjung Kelayang, Belitung also boasts other attractive tourist destinations, such as Tanjung Tinggi Beach, Lengkuas Island, Berahu Hill, Punai Beach, Pasir Beach, Kaolin Lake, Penyabong Beach, Kata Museum and Nyiur Melambai Beach. (kes)

from: theJakartaPost

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Coffee festivals held across archipelago to celebrate International Coffee Day

Coffee festivals held across archipelago to celebrate International Coffee Day

Several coffee events are currently being held across the archipelago to commemorate the International Coffee Day that falls on Oct. 1.

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Among them is the first Indonesian Coffee Creative Industry Festival that will run until Oct. 8 at The Breeze, BSD City, Tangerang, which involves Renewable Areas Movement (GDT) which partners with the Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Ministry, Indonesian National Armed Forces and Banten Tourism Agency and supported by the Tourism Ministry and the Youth and Sports Ministry.

The event reportedly invited ambassador representatives of neighboring countries, provincial administrations, state-own companies, coffee makers, private companies, coffee associations, communities and representatives of 70 countries.

Meanwhile Lampung hosts the Coffee Day Charm event that is said to attract many coffee lovers; Pasuruan regency in East Java holds the Coffee Exchanges and Festival during weekends for three weeks at Waroeng Daoen in Parelegi village, Purwodadi district.

The head of Indonesian Coffee Farmers Association (Apeki) in Pasuruan, Abdul Karim, said the festival that was opened on Sept. 16 aims to introduce Pasuruan coffee that has become one of the regency's main commodities and gather buyers and farmers. “So that farmers can directly communicate with the buyers,” said Abdul.

“For almost one month, there’s always coffee-related events held at this place every Saturday and Sunday,” he added. Some of the activities include coffee introduction to children, introduction to coffee equipment, local barista competition and a coffee forum.

The event held a traditional coffee roasting competition and barista training on Sept. 30 and a latte art training and International Coffee Day celebration the next day.

“It’s an interesting event and good education regarding coffee and how to process it,” said Hendro, one of the visitors from Surabaya, East Java, who came with his family.

The event is set to run until Oct. 7 with coffee auction of robusta and arabica coffee varieties from Pasuruan. (kes)

from: theJakartaPost

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Wonderful Indonesia Festival to be held in Oman

Wonderful Indonesia Festival to be held in Oman

Pesona Indonesia

Tourism ministry is set to hold the Wonderful Indonesia Festival in Oman from Oct. 2 - 6.

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According to the ministry’s deputy minister for Overseas Promotion, I Gde Pitana the event has a mission to help in achieving the 20 million overseas tourists target by 2019 as well as dismissing the negative portrayal of Indonesia as a country that provides unprofessional migrant workers.

“We will show that Indonesia has a lot more to offer and has a world-class beauty. This festival will hold a table-top industrial gathering on Oct. 3 at the Sheraton Muscat hotel. This is where tourism practitioners from Indonesia and Oman will meet and extend their network,” Pitana said.

“The Middle Eastern market is huge especially with their spending that is above average. They usually travel for eight and a half days with an average spending of US$1,190 per-visitor. In Oman, our target is the Middle Eastern families who usually take summer vacations for two until three months,” added the ministry's deputy assistant for Europe, the United States, Middle East and Africa tourism promotion, Nia Niscaya.

Moreover, Nia said that Indonesia is trying to keep up with Malaysia that welcomes 300,000 Middle Eastern tourists and Thailand with 800,000 Middle Eastern tourists. 

For the festival, the ministry is bringing four companies to Oman namely Astadala Tour, PT Indonesia Tur Arabia / Go Indonesia, PT. Tambatan Hati Tour & Travel and Travel In Style.

The ministry is also slated to present a seven-member dance group who will perform at the diplomatic reception hosted by the Indonesian Embassy in Oman on Oct. 2. 

“The dances that will be performed represent Bali, West Java, West Sumatra and Jakarta. There will be four dances such as Bajidor which is a collaboration between Sundanese Jaipong dance and Balinese dance, Gebyar Bali which is a new dance that showcases the Indonesian youth spirit at a people’s party, Galenyek which is the new version of the traditional Minang dance and Lenggang Betawi," Nia said.

The festival will also be held at Muscat Avenue Mall from Oct. 5 - 6.

For the Middle Eastern market, tourism minister Arief Yahya said to promote destinations that have won the World Best Halal Destination awards.

The ministry is targeting to attract five million international tourists for halal tourism in 2019. Currently the number is between two to three million tourists.

“Our 2019 target is five million, twice from the current number,” told Arief.

According to the report from Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) the number of tourists for this segment is expected to reach 168 million, an increase from the year of 2015 that had 117 million. GMTI also shows that Indonesia is in the fourth place for the most favorite halal destination among the Organization of Islamic Cooperation countries. (asw)

source: TheJakartaPost

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International Coffee Day: Solo to Give 5,000 Cups of Free Coffee

International Coffee Day: Solo to Give 5,000 Cups of Free Coffee  

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TEMPO.CO, Surakarta - Harjonagoro Traditional Market in Solo is preparing 5,000 cups of coffee to be given out for free at the International Coffee Day event, October 1.

"Besides enjoying their coffees, the visitors can also enjoy the beauty of the market at night," said the head of the event's committee Jefri Aditya Jayadi on Friday, Sept. 29.

At least 50 coffee shops will be participating at the event. The baristas will serve their best coffee blends at the event that will be started at 07:00 p.m. Indonesia Western Time.

"We don’t limit the type of coffees to be given out," he said. What is important, Jefri said, is they can invite the people of Solo to celebrate the International Coffee Day. "As well as introducing the tradition of drinking coffee," he added.

A similar event was also held at the same location. At that time, as many as 3,000 cups of free coffee were given to the visitors.

According to Jefri, the habit of Solo society hanging out at the coffee shops just broke out two years ago. Today, many coffee shops in Solo have attracted some loyal customers.

"Most of the customers are youths, such as students," Jefri said. He hopes the International Coffee Day event can further introduce coffee to all levels of society.

source

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Indonesia Presents Traditional Spa Techniques at Yogyakarta Expo

Indonesia Presents Traditional Spa Techniques at Yogyakarta Expo

Indonesia Travel Destination

Jakarta. Indonesia recently featured the Ethno Spa Indonesia 2017 in Yogyakarta on Aug. 12-13 to showcase its world-class spa facilities that can be found across the archipelago.

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"Indonesia’s spa tourism cannot be taken lightly. Just look at the world recognition in 2009 and 2012. At the time, the International Wellness Awards awarded The Best Spa Destination in The World to Indonesia," said Esthy Reko Astuti, the Ministry of Tourism’s deputy for tourism development, on Sunday (13/08).

"This festival is an activity with a goal to develop, preserve and introduce Indonesian spas with traditional herbs to tourists and foreign communities," Esthy added.

The festival comprises an exhibition, promotional sales and a best booth competition, with spa owners coming from across the world to attend.

Some local participants include Martha Tilaar, Jogya Tradisional Treatment, Taman Sari Royal Heritage Spa, Putri Kedaton, Nurkadhatyan Spa, Griya Bugar, DS Salon, Gallery Prawirotaman and Djemari.

"In Indonesia, there are lots of spas using a mixture of traditional herbs, providing the 'ethnical' touch, known as the ‘ethno spa.' This has become an attraction for foreign tourists visiting Indonesia,” Esthy said.

Meanwhile, the ministry’s tourism promotion head, Wawan Gunawan, said the traditional treatments inherited by older generations are crucial for the traditional spa industry in the country.

In Yogyakarta, these traditional spa outlets have become one of the leading tourism attractions.

"One of these tourist attractions is the Taman Sari bathing spot, [originally] built in 1789 by a Portuguese architect, as requested by Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono I. The bathing spot was intended for the Sultan and his relatives," Wawan said.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya agreed with his deputies, saying ethno spas are new and sensational.

"Indonesia is the heaven of spas. Some of them are located by the rice paddies, beachfronts, riversides, on the mountains, or accompanied by the flowing water in the river. Everything is available in Indonesia," Arief said.

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Wonderful Sail 2 Indonesia Rally 2017 travels across archipelago

Wonderful Sail 2 Indonesia Rally 2017 travels across archipelago

The annual Wonderful Sail 2 Indonesia Rally has finally kicked off. For three months, the participants will sail across the archipelago, exploring dozens of destinations in Indonesia from Langgur in Southeast Maluku to Batam in Riau Islands.

This year marks the 4th anniversary of the international rally and the first time it is conducted entirely in Indonesia.

The rally began on July 23 of which the yachters traveled to Langgur Maluku and will stay there until July 27.

“We’ve already prepared 65 tourist attractions. Currently, the one that’s been getting a lot of attention is the 100-meter cave in Wear Aur. The cave has rooms filled with beautiful stalactites. Welcome to Langgur,” said Southeast Maluku Tourism Agency head Roy Rahajaan.

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 Tourism Ministry’s deputy head of Marine Tourism Acceleration Team Asep Muhammad said the event could help promote marine tourism to foreign tourists, especially yacht communities around the world.

“Ambon in Maluku is included in 10 priority underwater destinations. There’s also Bali, Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara, Labuan Bajo and Alor in East Nusa Tenggara, Derawan in East Kalimantan, Bunaken in North Sulawesi, Togean in Central Sulawesi, Wakatobi in Southeast Sulawesi, and Raja Ampat in West Papua,” said Asep.

“Out of 68 participating yachts, there are at least 150 foreign tourists hailing from Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, Italia, Spain and France,” he added.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said that Wonderful Sail 2 Indonesia aimed to help to improve Indonesian tourism.

“From the in-and-out clearance, customs, immigration, quarantine, to harbormasters, all parties should go all out to support this if they wish Indonesia's yacht tourism to compete with other global players,” said Arief.

“It’s a lot better now with the availability of website https://yachters-indonesia.id where participants only need to fill in the available form to enter Indonesia. It’s easy and I encourage all parties to keep on improving their service,” he added.

Below is the schedule for Multihull Solutions – Wonderful Sail 2 Indonesia Rally 2017: (kes)

Southeast Maluku (July 23-27)
Banda Neira, Banda Islands (July 30 July - Aug. 2)
New South (Aug. 4 – 7)
Wakatobi (Aug. 10-13)
Maumere (Aug. 16-19)
Ende (Aug. 21-24)
Labuan Bajo (Aug. 26-29)
Sumbawa (Sept. 1-4)
Lombok (Sept. 7-11)
Bali (Sept. 14-17)
Kumai, West Kotawaringin (Sept. 27-30)
Bangka (Oct. 4 – 8)
Bidan (Oct. 11 – 14)
Tanjung Pinang (Oct. 15-18)
Batam (Oct. 20)


Indonesia Travel Destinations

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