JAKARTA: Association of Air Ticketing Companies in Indonesia (Astindo) is eyeing a significant jump in revenue from this year’s travel expo, Astindo Fair, which will gather hundreds of airline companies and travel agents in Jakarta and Surabaya on March 24 to 26.
The 2017 Astindo Fair is expected to lure at least 150,000 visitors and generate transaction value of up to Rp 200 billion (US$15 million), up 25 percent from last year’s revenue of Rp 160 billion from 105,000 visitors.
“We have high expectations because this year’s venues are bigger than in previous years and we have been more aggressive in promoting this event,” Astindo chairwoman Elly Hutabarat said Thursday.
The expo, set to be held at the Jakarta Convention Center’s Plenary and Assembly halls in the country’s capital city and Pakuwon shopping mall in Surabaya, will bring together 150 exhibitors consisting of various airline companies and travel agents.
Elly also said the fair was in line with the government’s Pesona Indonesia campaign, which is projected to boost the number of domestic travelers in the country.
Indonesia is seeking to spur significant growth in the tourist sector in a bid to lure 20 million tourists a year by 2019, nearly double last year’s figure of around 12 million per year.
To meet the target, the government is working on developing 10 new tourist destinations, including Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Borobudur Temple in Central Java and Thousands Islands in Jakarta.
