Badung, Bali Herald - Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno appreciated the re-organization of the travel exhibition "Bali & Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF 2024)" as a business to business platform which is expected to further strengthen the achievement of the 2024 foreign tourist visit target.
"Last year we managed to reach 11.7 million foreign tourists, and this year we are projecting 14 million visits. We believe, with the support of all (BBTF) we can even reach the pre-pandemic figures again," said Sandiaga when attending the closing ceremony of the "Bali & Beyond Travel Fair 2024", Friday (14/6/2024) at the Bali Nusa Dua Center (BNCC), Nusa Dua, Badung.
Not just the number of visits, the Menparekraf hopes that the tourists who come are quality tourists. Namely tourists with a period of stay as well as a higher spending value.
So that it will have an impact on economic improvement and the opening of jobs and business opportunities for the community.
"That tourists who visit Bali and Indonesia are those who appreciate local culture, also have an economic impact on MSMEs and local creative economy players," said Sandiaga.
The Bali Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) 2024 was held at the Bali International Convention Center (BICC) Nusa Dua, Bali on June 12-14.
The 10th BBTF brought together 282 companies as sellers from 8 countries in the world, namely, Indonesia, Nepal, Timor Leste, China, the United States, Malaysia, South Africa, and Iran with 460 buyers from 45 countries. The largest number of buyers came from India, Malaysia, Russia, Turkey, Thailand, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia.
Based on data submitted by the organizers, BBTF 2024 managed to collect potential transactions of IDR 7.61 trillion. This amount increased compared to last year's BBTF achievement of Rp6.7 trillion.
"Bali and Beyond Travel Fair 2024 really shows extraordinary collaboration," said Sandiaga.
Regarding the spotlight on the behavior of tourists in Bali who have recently violated many rules, Kemenparekraf together with related parties said Menparekraf Sandiaga will continue to provide understanding and education for tourists. Including to tourism businesses to participate in providing socialization and understanding for tourists in the field.
Previously, the government had also issued a regulation containing things that tourists could and could not do while in Bali. Both related to the law and Balinese culture.
"The behavior of tourists who break the law does not only happen in Bali or Indonesia. I just returned from Barcelona and the Mayor said that the things they face are the same. Of course the way is not to limit visits but rather to carry out a policy that will naturally ensure that tourists in Bali or Indonesia stay longer," Sandiaga said.
Chairman of the BBTF Committee who is also Chairman of ASITA Bali, I Putu Winastra, said that during the two-day event, BBTF 2024 received a very positive response from all parties. Starting from sellers as well as buyers.
"Therefore we are committed to continuing the Bali and Beyond Travel Fair as the leading annual travel fair in Indonesia," Putu Winastra said.
He ensured that next year BBTF will be held on June 4 to 6 with a theme related to sustainable tourism which is in line with the ideals of Indonesian tourism, namely quality and sustainable tourism.
Also attending the BBTF were Director of Regional I Tourism Marketing of the Ministry of Tourism, Raden Wisnu Sindhutrisno; Director of Nusantara Tourism Marketing of the Ministry of Tourism, Dwi Marhen Yono; Director of Special Interest Tourism of the Ministry of Tourism, Itok Parikesit; Head of Communication Bureau of the Ministry of Tourism, I Gusti Ayu Dewi Hendriyani; and President Director of Bali Tourism Polytechnic, Ida Bagus Putu Puja.