Collaboration Key to Indonesia's Tourism Recovery

The Covid-19 pandemic has become a challenge for the Indonesian tourism industry. The vaccination program run by the Indonesian government and the increasingly effective pandemic control program have brought a breath of fresh air to the improvement of the tourism industry in Indonesia.

Strategic steps need to be taken by tourism actors to welcome the post-pandemic tourism era. Cooperation and collaboration between tourism stakeholders will accelerate improvements and bring public confidence to return to tourism.

PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan & Ratu Boko (Persero) as the manager of three cultural heritage-based tourist destinations fully supports collaboration to revive the Indonesian tourism world.

"Collaboration is the key to reviving the tourism world. Together we build trust with tourists that the destination is safe," explained PT TWC Marketing Director Hetty Herawati in the Hexahelix Communication Collaboration webinar to Revive Indonesian Tourism, Saturday (27/2/2021).

In this webinar held by Perhumas Indonesia, collaboration and synergy between tourism actors, government, academics, communities, media and travelers were discussed. The purpose of this synergy is to build tourism that attracts interest, educates and shapes tourist behavior.

PT TWC as a state-owned company also collaborates with various parties, such as the government, fellow state-owned companies and communities.

"Several collaborations such as the online Ramayana Ballet performance in collaboration with the Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi, India and watched by hundreds of thousands of viewers from various countries. In addition, there is also the Indonesian Umbrella Festival, the Ratu Boko Keris Festival, Prambanan Jazz which has a hybrid concept, all of this is done to maintain customer awareness," continued Hetty.

Collaboration has also been carried out by PT TWC before the pandemic. This was done through the Twin World Heritage program between Borobudur-Angkor Wat Temple and Prambanan-Taj Mahal. "Exchange of information and publications is needed to stay connected internationally," said Hetty.

PT TWC, which manages one of Indonesia's super priority destinations, is committed to supporting quality and sustainable tourism. The restriction of visitors during this pandemic has changed the substance of tourism, which is usually mass, to sacred.

"Many things have been adjusted. We used to have packages for groups, now we have changed it to just for small, more intimate groups. We definitely want to present the richness of heritage and cultural history with a contemporary presentation so that it can inspire visitors," he concluded.