JAKARTA, 15 July 2023 – The Technical Guidance Forum or Bimtek in Jakarta is very good, we must appreciate it and follow up. Bimtek can be a good momentum to ignite enthusiasm, progress and growth and development of Muslim-friendly tourism in Indonesia in general and in DKI Jakarta in particular.
The above statement was conveyed by the General Chair of the Indonesian Halal Tourism Association (PPHI) Riyanto Sofyan at the opening of Bimtek on Thursday (13/7) at the Borobudur Hotel, Central Jakarta. This technical guidance activity itself lasted for two days until Friday (14/7). Bimtek is a collaboration between PPHI and the Department of Tourism and Creative Economy (Disparekraf) of DKI Jakarta Province and this time the theme is, “Innovation for the Development of Sustainable Muslim-Friendly Tourism.”
Riyanto hopes that this contextual theme, discussing innovation and development, can be a concrete step for PPHI and the DKI Jakarta Province Disparekraf and Disparekraf to continue to contribute to strengthening a sustainable Muslim-friendly tourism industry in Indonesia in general and in DKI Jakarta in particular.
More than 400 participants attended this Bimtek representing various relevant stakeholders. Apart from Riyanto, also present were the President of the Malaysia Inbound Travel Association (MITA)-Uzaidi Udanis, Head of the Tourism & Creative Economy Department of DKI Jakarta Province-Andhika Permata, General Chair of ASITA-Nunung Rusmiati, President/CEO of PATA Indonesia Chapter-Poernomo Siswoprasetijo, Founder of the Halal Forum Tourism-Maulana Gunawan Surbakti, Chairman of ITMA-H.R.Iman Kadarisman, Chairman of DPD PPHI Central Java-Kukrit Suryo Wicaksono, Chairman of DPD PPHI Riau-Merza Gamal, Chairman of ASPPERWI-Ario Pringgodany, General Chairman of OK OCE Indonesia-Iim Rusyamsi, General Chairman of APFI ( Indonesian Photography Professional Association)-Ridha Nugrotopo Kusumabrata, Chair of the DPD Puteri Jateng-Bimo Wahyu Widodo, Secretary of the DPD Indonesian Tour Guide Association (HPI), Banten-Chotibul Umam, Chair of the Yogyakarta Tinalah Tourism Village – Galuh Alif Fahmi Rizki, and Daily Chair of the Salman Halal Center ITB-Dina Sudjana.
Meanwhile, Bimtek speakers for the two days included: Hafizuddin Ahmad (Team for the Acceleration of Muslim-Friendly Tourism Development/P3Halal Ministry of Tourism 2015 – 2019 and Amicale Lifestyle International Halal Consultant) who discussed the theme “Implementation of Muslim-Friendly Tourism Concepts in Tourism Businesses.” The second speaker, R. Wisnu Rahtomo (Team drafting the Strategic Plan for the Development of Muslim-Friendly Tourism Destinations and Lecturer at Poltekpar NHI Bandung) discussed the theme, “Implementation of the Concept of Muslim-Friendly Tourism in Tourism Destinations.” The third speaker, Tawfiq Ikhtianto (Crescentrating) discussed the theme, “Muslim Friendly Tourism Rating & Recognition.” The fourth speaker, Uzaidi Udanis (President of the Malaysia Inbound Travel Association/MITA) discussed “Preferences of Malaysian Muslim Tourists.”
Riyanto explained that Bimtek activities were designed with the main aim of achieving several things that are very relevant and important for the development of Muslim-friendly tourism in Indonesia, including: increasing understanding about Muslim-friendly tourism, increasing the ability of tourism business actors and human resources, increasing the ability to adapt to post-modern changes. -pandemic and digitalization era as well as increasing competitiveness to exploit opportunities for the Big Size High Growth Muslim (halal) market with the number in 2019 of the Muslim tourist market amounting to 160 million tourists (spending US$ 194 B with growth of 7.5%) while the number of Chinese tourist markets is in under the Muslim tourist market, namely 155 million tourists (spend of US$ 77.1B with growth of 3.3%) thus showing that the Muslim tourist market is the main market, not a niche market.
It is also hoped that the Bimtek event can become a platform to provide understanding and implementation of the concept of Muslim-friendly tourism in the business sector and tourist destinations. Bimtek is also expected to be a follow-up to Indonesia’s success in ranking 1st again in the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) on June 1 2023 in Singapore issued by Mastercard Crescentrating.
Bimtek is not only in the form of provision and training but has become an intensive communication forum between tourism industry players and halal tourism business operators and destination managers from both Indonesia and Malaysia through B2B or business matching forums within the framework of cross selling, the Joint Package Muslim Friendly Travel Series so as to encourage the occurrence of direct transactions between business actors, creating opportunities for collaboration and innovation to accelerate and sustain Muslim-friendly tourism and increase tourist inbound to Indonesia and Malaysia.
Kadisparekraf DKI Jakarta Province, Andhika Permata, added, for DKI Jakarta Province, this event is a good momentum for preparation for DKI Jakarta Province in preparing itself at the level of business actors and human resources by implementing global benchmarking, namely an international ranking program for product quality. and Muslim Friendly Tourism business services, namely “Muslim Friendly Rating for Services and Facilities in Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Segment” by Mastercard Crescentrating in collaboration with PPHI.
Furthermore, there will be an ongoing national level program, namely the Indonesia Muslim Travel Index (IMTI) 2023 program, the results of which will be announced in October 2023. This activity, Andika hopes, can spark the growth and development of Muslim-friendly tourism in DKI Jakarta. DKI Jakarta is also expected to become the main Muslim-friendly tourism destination in Indonesia which will have an impact on increasing foreign exchange earnings from foreign tourists and increasing Regional Original Income (PAD).
Another interesting thing about this Bimtek activity, according to Andika, is the famtrip which was participated in by sellers from Indonesia and Malaysia to introduce tourist attractions or tourism products of DKI Jakarta to encourage increased visits from domestic and foreign tourists.
Participants who attend Bimtek also get the opportunity for a free international ranking or rating after being registered as PPHI members in the “Muslim Friendly Rating for Services and Facilities in Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Segment” program by Mastercard Crescentrating in collaboration with PPHI.
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For further information, please contact:
Rifai Chaniago (Direktur Eksekutif PPHI)
WhatsApp : +6285159066892
Email : sekretariat@pphi.id
Website : pphi.id
Instagram : @pphi_id
