Bali to Focus on 10 Key Markets in 2008

(1/28/2008)

Bisnis Indonesia reports that Bali is eyeing 10 major source markets as the key to achieving a self-proclaimed target of 2.5 million foreign visitors in 2008, a very ambitious 49% improvement over the record-breaking total of 1.67 million visitors who came to Bali in 2007.

The Chief of the Bali Tourism Authority (BTA), I Gede Nurjaya, told Bisnis Indonesia that marketing efforts will focus on the following 10 "key" markets for Bali tourism: Japan, Australia, Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, the People's Republic of China, U.K., Germany, France and the United States.

In targeting these markets to achieve the 2.5 million visitors, the BTA has taken into consideration the traditional strength of the subject 10 countries as source markets, the high purchasing power of these countries' nationals, their relatively long length of stay and their "concern for the environment." Explained Nurjaya, "because of these things, these countries have been targeted, not just because of the quantities they bring to Bali, but also the quality of those visitors."

Nurjaya said he hoped that foreign promotions in 2008 would be based on close cooperation between provincial government of Bali, the regional governments on the Island and members of the private tourism sector.

Added Nurjaya: "The coordination and promotion (to these markets) must offer Bali tourism products that conform with the characteristic of these source markets. No less important is the timing of the promotional efforts."