SWITZERLAND has recorded strong incentive growth from Indonesia last year despite the challenging global economic situation and Indonesians’ diminished buying power due to an unstable rupiah against the US dollar.
Explaining the increase in incentive group numbers, Ivan Breiter, Switzerland Tourism’s director of Southeast Asia, said: “There are many companies in Indonesia that have not done incentive trips before and are only starting to do so now. Switzerland is often chosen for top-tier (achievers) because of its reputation as a quality destination.”
Total arrivals from Indonesia, including MICE and leisure, grew by 20 per cent last year, a record increment for the market, according to Breiter. That made Indonesia Switzerland’s third largest South-east Asian source market, overtaking Malaysia.
Dominique Oi, MICE manager of South-east Asia, Switzerland Tourism, told TTGmice e-Weekly that the bureau was “happy to see the performance from Indonesia last year”.
Oi added: “We had groups coming in even until December, many of which had at least 100 pax. We are expecting another good year in 2016, as we have seen enquiries coming in as early as January.”
Switzerland Tourism was in Jakarta for a sales mission earlier this month, an exercise that brought 36 MICE sellers to meet with Indonesian outbound agents specialising in both MICE and leisure.
The bureau took the opportunity to introduced a new online tool for MICE planners, as part of its effort to entice business from Indonesia.
Oi explained: “This online tool provides information for planners to create their first proposal to clients. In the past, they needed to Google for information and sometimes had to go back and forth with tour operator partners on the ground for additional details. This tool (eliminates all that).”
The online tool can be found at www.MySwitzerland.com/meetings.
