Thursday, August 29, 2024 In a strategic effort to penetrate the vast Indian market, Bintan Resorts has formed a partnership with VFS Global, a leading global specialist in outsourcing and technology services, to promote Bintan Resorts on Bintan Island, located in the Riau Islands Province of Indonesia, as a premier travel destination. This collaboration was officially sealed with the signing of an agreement on August 29, 2024, at the Grand Lagoi Hotel in Bintan Resorts. The partnership aims to increase the visibility and attractiveness of Bintan Island, positioning it as a top destination for Indian travelers.
By leveraging VFS Global’s extensive network across India, including major and secondary cities, as well as its strong connections with businesses, media, and corporate entities, the collaboration is expected to significantly boost tourism from India to Bintan Island. Bintan Resorts is dedicated to highlighting the island’s rich tourism potential, from its delightful culinary offerings to its high-quality services and warm hospitality centered on comfort. These factors are expected to make Bintan Island an irresistible destination for Indian travelers.
“We are excited to partner with VFS Global to introduce the beauty and charm of Bintan Island to the Indian market,” said Abdul Wahab , Chief Operating Officer of Bintan Resorts. “This collaboration will elevate Bintan’s status as a must-visit destination for Indian tourists. We eagerly look forward to welcoming more visitors from India and offering them the exceptional experiences that only Bintan Island can provide,” added Wahab .
The partnership will roll out a targeted marketing campaign across major Indian cities, aiming to establish Bintan as a premier travel destination alongside Singapore. This campaign will introduce an innovative dual-destination strategy, featuring a captivating tagline that highlights Bintan’s unique offerings, ranging from family-friendly vacations and thrilling adventures to delectable culinary experiences and special events, including weddings, MICE, and more. Promotional efforts will focus on digital and social media platforms, collaborating with influencers, B2B sales initiatives, and organizing workshops and familiarization trips for influencers and content creators.
A key aspect of the campaign will involve close collaboration with travel trade partners, whom both Bintan Resorts and VFS Global have built strong relationships with over the years, to promote the island to their clientele. The partnership aims to leverage VFS Global’s extensive media network and connections to significantly enhance Bintan Island’s visibility and attract a considerable influx of tourists. “Together, we will work towards increasing the Indian tourist arrivals to Bintan Island and enriching their overall travel experience.
Of immediate priority for both partners is to re-introduce Bintan island’s offerings to the Indian audiences and socialise them to the sheer convenience of hopping on to the island from the shores of Singapore to enjoy themselves as families, small and big groups,” said G B Srithar, Head of Tourism Services at VFS Global. He noted that the Indian market presents a promising opportunity for Bintan’s tourism sector, as India was Singapore’s third-largest source of visitors in 2019, with approximately 1.4 million travellers.
Singapore concluded 2023 with 1.08 million Indian visitors. Bintan Island plans to entice and welcome a significant share of travellers to Singapore.
“By positioning Bintan Resorts as a complementary destination to Singapore, easily accessible by a hassle-free 60-minute ferry ride from the city-state, we aim to attract a double-digit share of these Indian visitors,” said Wahab . The dual-destination approach is expected to capitalise on the appeal of two exceptional travel experiences. The signing event saw the attendance of several key stakeholders, including Ni Made Ayu Marthini, Deputy Minister for Marketing at the Ministry of Tourism & Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia; Guntur Sakti, Head of the Tourism Office for the Riau Islands Province; Robby Kurniawan, Head of Bintan Regency; and Arief Sumarsono, Head of the Tourism Office for Bintan Regency.
Representatives from the Bintan Resorts Council, as well as prominent figures from the travel and tourism sectors and media, were also present..
