JEDDAH, 17 July 2004 — This summer Indonesia and Malaysia are among the favorite destinations for travelers from Saudi Arabia. Industry sources are expecting nearly 15,000 to 20,000 visitors to Indonesia from the Kingdom this year, and a similar number to Malaysia.
“With the shaky security situation in other traditional holiday places, travel to Indonesia is picking up,” said Akram A. Sha’ar, sales and marketing manager, Elaf Travel and Tourism.
Sha’ar forecasts a 15-20 percent increase in traffic to Indonesia this year and said that besides leisure there is potential for corporate travel and MICE — trips for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions. “We have prepared special packages for the summer,” he added. “We are interested in promoting tourism to Indonesia and we will open an office in Jakarta,” said Capt. Imran Khan, director, commercial aviation, Saudi Business Insight Group (SBIG).
He said SBIG’s divisions — VIP Travel Club and Destinations of the World have already been cooperating with Garuda Indonesia, and to further promote tourism, an agreement has been signed with Avia Nusantara, a Jakarta-based private airline to support additional charter flights for tourism and pilgrimage.
Morad Omar, Malaysia Airlines area manager for Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and Yemen, said Saudis and expatriates have been “flocking” to Malaysia in increasing numbers, especially with families, “which goes to show it is a safe, clean, and fun place to enjoy the holidays.”
Last year, more than 20,000 people from Saudi Arabia visited Malaysia, which accounted for 25 percent of the total tourist arrivals from West Asia. “With more interesting and competitive packages, the number is likely to be surpassed this year,” Omar added.
Bosco Rodrigues, Portfolio Travel’s manager, Garuda GSA, said that in view of the growing interest for travel to Indonesia, Portfolio has become the Garuda General Sales Agency for Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam, recently and are to open a dedicated office soon.
R.B. Adi Utomo, Garuda’s sales manager, Western Province, said a questionnaire has been prepared to gain the opinion of the people in the industry as to what the travelers prefer by way of sites, activities, entertainment, cities, cuisine, and accommodation so that their visit could be made more interesting and comfortable.
“We plan to promote a different city every two months, and start e-marketing soon in co-operation with Portfolio. We have four flights a week from Jeddah and 3 from Dhahran to Jakarta and all are 100 percent full these days,” he said, and added there was also a plan to promote the Silk Route to China from Saudi Arabia via Jakarta.
According to Mohammed Haitham S. Kassar, assistant secretary-general for public relations, and marketing, Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, travel to Indonesia is “a journey to a similar culture and heritage” and no doubt more people from the Kingdom prefer to visit that country both for business and leisure.
He said tourism broadens people’s horizon and furthers understanding, which contributes to peace and security, as well as to economic growth. He said the chamber was always prepared to lend its support to further strengthen relations between peoples of Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.
