Indonesian tourists increasingly eye overseas destinations
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With holidays approaching, or arriving early for some, parents have made plans to travel both domestically and internationally.
Djatmiko, a city professional, says he has taken his family on vacation to the East Java city of Malang and nearby active volcano Mt Bromo, domestic tourist spots that allow his children to “explore Indonesia”.
“Overseas jaunts are more for sightseeing,” he said on Sunday, adding that he might take his family to Malaysia and Singapore after touring the archipelago.
Meanwhile, Alyssa, the mother of two primary school-aged children, said she and her family visited Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore last week to de-stress, especially after her children’s school exams. “We don’t mind that other vacationers flocked to the resort as well. It is the holiday season after all,” she said.
Children, it seems, are not the only ones in a tizzy for the summer holidays. Resorts and amusement parks in neighbouring Singapore and Hong Kong are anticipating a swell of well-heeled Indonesian families eager for leisurely pursuits, making the country an enticing market for a myriad of tour operators.
Andrew Kim, managing director of Hong Kong Disneyland, said the “Indonesian market is definitely one of the fastest-growing emerging markets in Southeast Asia,” with a macro-economic state that has catalysed the expansion of the middle-class. In addition, low-cost carriers are now enabling more people to go overseas.
“With these three things – income, leisure time and connectivity – falling into place, outbound tourism in Indonesia will definitely mature and grow,” he said.
