Want to head out on vacation but at a loss where to start your plans? An excellent place to begin will be with the special prices and holiday packages available at the three-day Garuda Indonesia Travel Fair (GATF) 2012, opening on Friday, Nov. 9.

The largest consumer travel holiday exhibition in Indonesia is fully dedicated to serving the travel needs of consumers. Dozens of travel agents, hoteliers and international exhibitors are showcasing their travel and hospitality programs, all located conveniently under one roof at the Jakarta Convention Center.

This will enable visitors to gain better prices for flights and accommodation, as well as exploring travel destinations and attractive holiday packages, until Nov. 11.

 “Aside from the special offers and easy access to discuss their travel needs with our travel agent partners, consumers also have an opportunity to plan their travel ahead since Garuda provide ticket that has one year time to use,” said PT Garuda Indonesia Tbk’s vice president of marketing, Amelia Syafrina Dewi Nasution.

The fourth GAFT is themed ”Discover the World with Garuda Indonesia”, encapsulating the spirit, value and tangible elements for customers to experience in their travels.

“This theme is in synergy with Garuda’s business objective to expand market penetration focusing on the international market,” Amelia said. “Our focus in exploring destinations brings more elements for consumer to experience. Working with [overseas] national tourism boards, such as Hong Kong, Korea, Macau and Thailand, as well as the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry, allows us to introduce many of the best kept secret places that will intrigue consumers to experience by themselves.”

The exhibition is also a fine forum for business to business interactions for networks building.

Paronama Tour, Smailing Tour, Avia Tour, Vaya Tour, Garuda Indonesia Holidays, Anta Tour, Wita Tour — to name but a few — are among the travel agents taking advantage of the ongoing travel fair. Most of them offer a variety of holiday packages, including for year-end and New Year’s, for consumers to have more options in tour packages and destinations.

For budget-conscious travelers, for example, affordable “Cost Saver” packages are available.

And for those who are more interested in enjoying creature comforts during their vacations, the “Comfort Packages” are ideal. They include an itinerary allowing individuals, families or groups to visit a selected travel destination.

“The all inclusive” (premium) is also available. We also offer a super luxury holiday package with the most unique destinations in the world, under the category of Signature Product,” said Putu Ayu Aristyadewi, head of marketing and communications of Smailing Tour & Travel Management, one of the 50 travel agents participating in the event.

The “Special Interest Tour” allows visitors to indulge their favorite hobbies, whether it is cycling, photography, shopping or the foodie’s choice of a culinary tour.

For those in need of more leeway in terms of departure, length of holiday and airline, there is the flexible package.

“Through this event, Smailing Tour will be able to enhance our already established cooperation with Garuda Indonesia in addition to the advantages that we gain in terms of business, especially with Garuda Indonesia providing attractive offers and special prices,” said Putu Ayu.

Other travel agents, like Garuda Indonesia Holidays, a subsidiary of Garuda Indonesia and Aerowisata, are promoting various thematic holiday packages, either for year-end holiday (winter) or the first quarter holiday next year. This year’s GAFT also serves as a suitable venue for the re-launch of the travel agent with the new face and more dynamic working performance.

“There is a wide selection of holiday packages to choose from because Garuda Indonesia strives to fulfill the needs of all existing market segments. We offer packages for families and those who love photography, culture, culinary lovers, communities of particular interest, such as sports, cycling, diving motor-sports and etcetera,” said Garuda Indonesia Holidays’ Marketing & Business Development’s vice president Rafael Jeffry A. Sani.

With the support of Garuda Indonesia’s routes, “we create holiday packages based on customers needs, such as Free and Easy Package for those wanting flexibility in travel; Special Interest for holiday makers that are eager to enjoy a itinerary-based holiday according to their interest and time; and Platinum Destination for those eager to have a super luxury and world’s most unique destinations.”

Far reaching

Garuda Indonesia Tbk says it continues to facilitate travel not only in terms of prices but also in its routes and destinations, especially showcasing Indonesia.

“As the national flag carrier, we are also proud to be your partner trusted travel partner throughout your journeys of discovery in Indonesia,” said Garuda Indonesia president & CEO Emirsyah Satar.

“Garuda’s far-reaching network across the archipelago allows you to travel to your heart’s desire, whether it is to remote mountain hideaways, each gateways or stepping into the dynamic and burgeoning urban centers of the nation.

“Garuda Indonesia also continues to expand its international routes, and offers individual or group travelers greater travel options, whether it is in the choice of destination or budget plans.”

Meanwhile, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu is upbeat about the tourist industry in Indonesia, saying that a positive development is the increasing quality of tourist infrastructure, professionalism of travel services and great connectivity.

“All this facilitates travel and makes it so much easier,” she said in her message in the GATF event booklet.

She also expressed hopes that visitors would experience first-hand the professionalism in services from the various vendors during this weekend.

“Most of all, I hope you will find the right vacation package for you and your family, and that you will not just visit the different locations in Indonesia, but that you will have an unforgettable experience,” she said.

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