The Wonderful Indonesia Tourism Fair (WITF) 2024 debuted last week in Jakarta, attracting 150 local sellers, 225 buyers from both domestic and international markets, and approximately 2,000 walk-ins. The event facilitated around 5,000 scheduled appointment sessions over the course of three days.

Supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, WITF marked the first B2B travel market organized by the Association of the Indonesian Tourism Businesses (GIPI), which represents 36 tourism-related associations across Indonesia.

Budi Tirtawisata, steering committee chairman, announced that following the success of this inaugural event, future editions will be “bigger and better,” with WITF set to return from October 8 to 10, 2025, in Jakarta.

Haryadi Sukamdani, GIPI chairman, emphasized the strong interest in Indonesia as a destination, even though only 18% of buyers were fully hosted. He noted that many buyers were new to Indonesia and were eager to promote destinations beyond Bali, focusing on building their local partnerships.

Nur Hidajat, owner of Warna Indonesia Tour and Travel, East Java, commented that the new buyers he engaged with had “detailed questions” and were “seriously interested” in nature and adventure travel, with one buyer planning to try his program during their next visit.

The fair featured a wide variety of sellers, including tour operators, hotels, regional tourism offices, and entertainment companies. Participating brands included Taman Safari Indonesia, Jatim Park Group, and Orchid Forest Cikole. Also present were White Horse Group, Sumber Alam Group, and Blue Bird Group, showcasing their tour buses, taxis, and car rental services.

Kai, the Indonesian Railway Company, introduced its luxury Dining on Train experience, offering a fine-dining setup for 16 passengers with a three-course meal.

Tourism villages were highlighted with the support of BCA Bank, which sponsored a booth to represent these communities.

International buyers expressed satisfaction with the variety of products, particularly for destinations like Yogyakarta, Komodo National Park, Java, and Sumatera. Flora He, from GZL International Travel Service in Guangzhou, China, mentioned her search for nature and cultural experiences, while Muhammad Ashraf, from Urdham Tours and Travels in Lahore, Pakistan, sought adventure, nightlife, and shopping destinations.

When asked about improvements, both buyers and sellers suggested a more streamlined appointment scheduling system. BP Tan of GypsetXperiences, Malaysia, proposed hiring a consultant to optimize B2B appointment management.