Travel Weekly Asia, in collaboration with Resorts World Cruises and Royal Caribbean International, recently hosted CruiseWorld Indonesia 2023 in Jakarta. The event sought to inspire, educate and unlock Indonesia's immense potential as a cruise market and destination under the theme 'Fast-track your cruise business now'.

Here are five key takeaways from the conference, which will shape the immense potential of Indonesia's cruise industry and beyond.

1. Adopt creative ways to sell cruise and travel

To stay ahead of the curve, embrace an innovative mindset and move beyond selling the same offerings. Resorts World Cruises’ unique dual homeport setup opens up new ways in how travel agents can package cruise packages with a greater touch freedom and flexibility for travellers, said urged Michael Goh, president of Resorts World Cruises.

For instance, guests can board the Genting Dream in Malaysia, enjoy a delightful night on board, disembark in Singapore, and relish in a two- to three-night stay in Singapore. Then, they can return to our cruise ship and sail back to Malaysia. Alternatively, guests who sail from Hong Kong can disembark in Kaohsiung, immerse themselves in its wonders for three nights, and then rejoin the ship for a return voyage to Hong Kong.

“This concept opens up endless possibilities for crafting unforgettable itineraries, allowing travel agents to earn a commission not only from cruises but also from accommodations, land tours, and attractions,” he remarked. “Gone are the days of simply selling cruises; instead, we empower travel agents to curate truly extraordinary adventures,” he remarked.

Ni Made Ayu Marthini, deputy minister for marketing at Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy’s (MoTCE), also made a similar point. “Make use of the MoTCE’s Village Tourism programme, which has curated 175 villages out of the vast array of 4,000 in Indonesia, to design fresh and remarkable experiences for travellers and set new benchmarks in the industry.”

2. Go where customers are booking

In this digital age, travel consumers are increasingly booking online and it’s paramount that travel agents follow where their customers are. “A staggering 25% of the overall revenue generated by Resorts World Cruises is attributed to online bookings. This statistic underscores the undeniable importance of establishing a robust online presence – merely having a website or relying on online travel agencies is not sufficient,” said Goh.

He added, “To capitalise on this significant revenue stream, it is crucial to strategically invest in an online platform. By embracing digitaliSation, you can secure the optimal share of your business, ensuring that you do not miss out on vital sales opportunities in this thriving online marketplace.”

3. Get social with customer engagement

Social media marketing was a prevalent theme at CruiseWorld Indonesia, where several speakers spoke of the importance of engaging with customers online to build a strong brand presence.

In Indonesia, social media now plays a role in showcasing a company’s vitality and its ability to navigate the challenges brought about by the pandemic, observed Hellen Xu, CEO of Panorama JTB Tours Indonesia. Sharing and posting about incentive trips to overseas destinations on social media creates an impression of success and emphasises the company's commitment to expanding staff’s professional horizons, he added. The fear of missing out is further fuels this phenomenon among leisure travellers and corporate groups alike.

4. Harness the power of collaboration

Partnering and collaborating with other industry players can drive value and innovation. The long-standing relations between Singapore and Indonesia, including the numerous Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries, underscore the spirit of collaboration, said Vinsensius Jemadu, deputy minister for tourism products and activities organisation at MoTCE.

“Singapore relies on Indonesia just as much as Indonesia relies on Singapore to amplify the influx of visitors to our respective shores. Together, we can propel our destinations to new heights, fostering a thriving environment that benefits us all.”

5. Don’t overlook secondary cities

Pauline Suharno, president of ASTINDO, recommends more support from cruise lines for travel agents to get first-hand knowledge essential for effective selling. “The support extended by cruise lines to travel agents in their efforts to promote and sell cruises is genuinely appreciated. However, an even greater stride forward would be the provision of comprehensive training programmes by cruise lines, not only in major metropolitan areas but also in secondary cities.”

She added that ASTINDO recently forged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to boosting cruise tourism, particularly in secondary cities where the STB has committed to enhancing training opportunities as well. The association is currently engaged in discussions to secure the expertise of cruise professionals to conduct training sessions for its travel agent members in these cities.