India is one of the most prospective tourism markets for Bali. In 2022, India is the second largest country of origin for foreign tourists to the Island of Gods (locally known as Pulau Dewata).

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – As Indonesia's main tourism destination, Bali becomes the province with the biggest economic shrinkage during the pandemic in the past. India is one of the most prospective tourism markets for Bali.

In 2022, India is the second largest country of origin for foreign tourists to the Island of Gods (locally known as Pulau Dewata for Bali), the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a written statement as quoted by Indonesia Window on Tuesday.

Bali is expected to revive through efforts to increase the number of foreign tourist arrivals in line with the lifting of the Covid-19 pandemic status.

For this reason, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiated an activity on the Joint Strategy Formulation and Promotion of Bali Tourism for the Indian Market on Wednesday (May 31, 2023) in Kuta, Bali.

Some of the invitees to the activity were those from the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, the Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi, the Indonesian Consulate General in Mumbai, the Indonesian National Development Planning Agency, the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation, airlines, Provincial and City/Regency Tourism Offices in Bali and various associations and tourism industry players in the province.

The event aimed to formulate a joint promotion strategy for Bali tourism through the implementation of economic diplomacy in India.

The Director for South and Central Asia of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jatmiko Heru Prasetyo, said that one of the factors driving the increase in these visits is the socio-cultural and religious similarities between Bali and India.

The fact that tourists from India spend a lot of consumption when traveling and long periods of stay confirms the agreement that the Indian market is potential for tourism in Bali.

On this occasion, resource persons and activity participants discussed various main issues related to the Indian market, one of which was connectivity.

All participants agreed that direct flights between India and Bali would significantly increase the number of Indian tourists to the Indonesian resort island.

So, it is expected that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can coordinate relevant parties to encourage the opening of this access immediately.

The activity also identified various segments of the Indian market. For this reason, according to Deputy Head of Representative of the Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi, Masni Eriza, a different promotion strategy is needed for each market segment, including for the luxury and Gen Z segments.

Such a promotion strategy was responded by the representative of the Bali Provincial Tourism Office by offering tailored-packages such as an honorary banquet a la kingdom in Puri Agung (the residence of Balinese royalty).

Other issues discussed at the event included that on immigration such as the need for a visa on arrival and more specific matters related to organizing Indian family marriages in Bali such as the need to bring jewelry as a dowry, and permits for teams that need to be brought in directly from India such as wedding chaplains.

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to encourage debottlenecking efforts on these issues.

Secretary of the Directorate General for Asia Pacific and Africa of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trisari Dyah Paramita, conveyed the need for joint promotions, for example through collaborative marketing events and sales missions among the Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi, the Indonesian Consulate General in Mumbai, and the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.

The Deputy for Marketing at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Ni Made Ayu Marthini, through her video message, also conveyed the need for digital marketing and highlights of tourism villages and diversification through the Bali and beyond approach.

Ni Made invited Indonesian representatives in India to synergize and collaborate on a flagship program plan.

The meeting also presented one of the travel agents who have representative offices in Australia, Indonesia and India.

The CEO of the travel agency, Jemy Soetrisno, said there is potential to work with foreign tourists who are Indian diaspora in Australia, including students to visit Bali.

Jemy has also collaborated with one of the tourist villages in Bali to enter into their tour packages.

The meeting ended with the formulation of an action plan as a way forward to work on the Indian market.

The action plan is designed to address the main issues that have been identified, for example, the opening of direct flight routes by Indian and Indonesian airlines that already have flight routes from and to one of the cities in India and Indonesia, as well as exploring other airlines, organizing familiarization trips for introducing new tourist attractions, and advancing the creative economy through exploring joint-production of Bollywood films in Bali.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes the importance of efforts to continue the collaborative commitment in the future for the success of Bali tourism promotion through the implementation of various mutually agreed agendas.

Reporting by Indonesia Window