FOR THE first time, Lombok tourism was collectively represented in 2011 at London’s World Travel Market – the annual leading global promotional event for the travel and tourism industry.
The intensive four-day event in November gives business-to-business opportunities to present destinations and industry sectors to United Kingdom and other international travel professionals.
This year’s event was the busiest ever, attracting 28,000 visitors which was a five percent increase on 2010 attendance which soared 10 percent over visitor numbers in 2009.
Lombok tourism at the event was represented by the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) branch of the Indonesia Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI); the Lombok Hotels Association and five Lombok resorts.
Lombok’s attendance at the event was supported by Indonesia’s Deputy Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy, Sapta Nirwanda. His London program included a trade show seminar on 8 November titled Wonderful Indonesia in which the Visit Lombok Sumbawa 2012 campaign was promoted along with a program to attract tourism to South Sulawesi.Overall, the Lombok delegation was successful in presenting the island’s tourism potential to industry operators capable of promoting and sending tourists to the island and to the British and international media.
On behalf of NTB’s branch of PHRI, Santosa Resort & Villas general manager Stephane Servin said while many travel agents at the exhibition responded well to products from throughout Indonesia, they were particular impressed with Lombok’s presence and products.
“Many of them previously knew little of Lombok and were excited to be presented with a ‘new’ market,” said Mr Servin. “Some of the main wholesalers at the travel market commented that it was time to see much more of Lombok at major travel trade events.”
World Travel Market London presents a rare opportunity for the global travel and tourism trade to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business.
Participants therefore gain a competitive advantage for their businesses and are exposed to new developments in the tourism and travel industry.
Lombok resorts which sent representatives to London were Puri Mas Villas, Puri Bunga Cottages, Qunci Villas and Cocotinos Sekotong as well as Santosa.
Puri Mas has two boutique properties a little north of the Senggigi tourist strip; Puri Bunga overlooks Senggigi Bay, Qunci ‘s beachfront boutique property is north of Senggigi; Cocotinos sits on the bay in Lombok’s developing southern destination of Sekotong; and Santosa occupies prime beachfront land at Senggigi.
Lombok tourism operators have responded enthusiastically to broader opportunities to promote travel to the island with the opening of the new Lombok International Airport which can accommodate wide-bodied aircraft.
Charter flights will deliver 4000 Russians directly to Lombok airport for two-week vacations through to May 2012. And tourism professionals are hopeful that successful low-cost carrier Air Asia will be one of the first airlines to schedule new regular services to Lombok in 2012.
source:enchanting-lomboksumbawa.com
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