Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara welcomes Tourism Indonesia Mart & Expo (TIME) 2010

After successfully hosting the Indonesian annual travel mart, Tourism Indonesia Mart & Expo (TIME) or ‘Pasar Wisata Indonesia’ last year, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara once again will be host of this year’s Indonesia’s annual travel mart Tourism Indonesia Mart & Expo (TIME) or Pasar Wisata Indonesia. This Indonesian premier tourism event will be held on 12 - 15 October 2010 at Santosa Villas & Resort Lombok. Entering its 16th years of conduct, TIME is organized by the Indonesian Tourism Promotion Board (ITPB) and supported by entire tourism components in Indonesia.

The Chairwoman and Steering Committee of TIME 2010, Meity Robot, said the conduct of TIME also supports the government program of “Visit Indonesia Year” which continued this year, as TIME is aimed at promoting Indonesia as tourist destination in international market and at the same time raise the country image as one of global travel destinations.

“TIME is the only international travel mart in Indonesia with business to business concept. The event is a meeting place for those who sell tourism products and services in Indonesia (seller) to international market (buyer). TIME has been listed in the calendar of international travel mart together with ITB Berlin, WTM London, Arabian Travel Mart (ATM), PATA Travel Mart, and so on. TIME 2010 will present all tourist destinations, including popular travel destinations, tourism objects, new product development,” Meity continued.

“The shifting of TIME to Lombok for two consecutive years, i.e. 2009 and this year, is aimed at promoting Lombok and West Nusa Tenggara to the international market and speeding up the development and improvement of infrastructure, tourism facilities and tourism attractions in the region, so that at the end the destination could establish itself as one of global travel destinations. Moreover, with the completion of new international airport expected to be ready this year, it will attract more tourist arrivals to the island and speed up the improvement of infrastructure and encourage more investors to the region to develop new hotels as well as tourism attractions,” Meity went on.

At the press time with Local Organizing Committee of TIME 2010 consisting of West Tenggara Culture & Tourism Office and Lombok Sumbawa Promo, it was stated that the conduct of TIME in Lombok was the initial international l promotional effort or as a kick off towards the success of “Visit Lombok Sumbawa 2012” and this year Lombok is ready to once again host TIME as the event is supported by the provincial government and its tourism industry.

Lombok is located just east of Bali. The island is only 20 minutes by flight from Bali, with Selaparang International Airport. The island possesses various tourism potentials which could attract international market, from nature, i.e. mountain, sea, land) to culture and art. Presently,

Lombok has almost 3500 hotel rooms with international standard. In terms of accessibility, Lombok is flown directly from Singapore by Silk Air, and from Kuala Lumpur via Surabaya by Merpati Nusantara, as well as frequent flights from Jakarta by Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air, and from Denpasar by Merpati Nusantara.

Held last year in Lombok, TIME 2009 was successfully attracted total attendants of 127 Buyers from 25 countries, with top five Buyers consist of Korea, India & Malaysia, Indonesia, USA, and the Netherlands as Top Five Buyers. TIME 2009 was also attracting a total of 250 delegates of Sellers from 97 companies of Indonesia occupying 84 booths at the Exhibition. Sellers came from 15 provinces dominated by West Nusa Tenggara, Jakarta, Bali, Central Java, and East Kalimantan as top five Sellers. The percentage of Sellers based on industry was Hotel, Resort & Spa (75%), NTO (10%), Tour Operator/Travel Agent (7%), Adventure/Activity Holiday (3%), Airline (1.5%), and Others (Hotel Management, Tourism Board, Tourism Organization & Travel Portal (8.5%). Amidst current global financial crisis, TIME 2009 booked an estimated of transaction of USD 17.48 million, or increasing 15% from the previous TIME held in Makassar, South Sulawesi in 2008. “The number of buyers attending TIME for seven consecutive years have been relatively steady since these are potential buyers which sell Indonesian tourism products and services in their markets respectively,” Meity concluded.

TIME 2010 is supported by the travel and tourism industry in Indonesia, namely Ministry of Culture & Tourism, the Provincial Government of West Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara Culture & Tourism Office, Lombok Sumbawa Promo, Garuda Indonesia as Official Airlines, other supporting airlines , Indonesia National Air Carriers Association (INACA), Board of Airline Representatives Indonesia (BARINDO), Association of Indonesian Tours & Travel Agencies (ASITA), Indonesia Hotels and Restaurant Association (PHRI), Indonesian Conference and Convention Association (INCCA), Pacto Convex as the event organizer, supported by national and international media.

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