Media Release
7 June 2023
Mr Andrew Hogg, Executive General Manager of Eastern Markets and Aviation at Tourism Australia made his inaugural visit to Indonesia from 23 – 26 May to encourage Indonesian tourists to holiday down under.
Indonesian tourists have been flocking back to Australia since borders reopened last year. 119,250 Indonesians visited the negara kangaroo over the year ending in March 2023, making it Australia’s 11th largest source of tourists. But with direct flights now on offer from Indonesia to most Australian cities, Mr Hogg was keen to use his visit to find ways to get Indonesia into the top 10.
Meeting with airlines, travel agents and tour providers, Mr Hogg looked for ways to further build demand and ensure Australia is top-of-mind for Indonesian travellers.
Mr Hogg also hosted a screening of Tourism Australia’s short film, “G’day”, featuring souvenir kangaroo Ruby (played by Australian actor Rose Byrne) and toy unicorn Louie (Will Arnett) in an amazing adventure around Australia, visiting iconic sites including Melbourne's laneways and stunning natural landscapes such as Uluru.
Commenting on his visit, Mr Hogg said, “It has been encouraging to hear from our partners here in Indonesia that there has been incredible demand for Australia as a destination. Not only is Australia just 7 hours away direct from Jakarta to Sydney, our most recent consumer research also shows that Indonesians see Australia as a welcoming and safe destination.”
“Beyond leisure travel, we also see great opportunities for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) travel. We have continued to invest and develop our tourism industry during the pandemic, and as international tourism bounces back, we not only look forward to welcoming more Indonesians to rediscover the Australia they know and love, but also to explore the myriad of new tourism experiences we have to offer.”
Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Penny Williams PSM noted “Tourism is central to Australia’s economic relationship with Indonesia, and plays a crucial role supporting people-to-people links between our two countries. Indonesia is the world’s fourth largest country, right on Australia’s doorstep – but only our 11th largest source of tourists. Let’s see how we can get Indonesia into the top 10.”
To watch the adventures of Ruby and Louie yourself, check out the film “G’day” here.
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