Battle of fairs brewing in Indonesia

The sixth ITHF will be held from March 30 to April 2 while ASTINDO ITF debuts in Jakarta from April 1 to 3.

According to RAJAmice CEO, Panca Sarungu, ITHF provides a greater variety of products and has the benefit of a one-day head start over the newcomer. He noted that travellers would usually want an early start to grab discounted fares for limited airline seats.

Sarungu denied that ITHF favoured certain big agents, as implied by ASTINDO ITF organising committee chairman Elly Hutabarat's claim that the association's fair would provide a level playing ground to all members big and small.

Asked whether there was room for two concurrent fairs, Sarungu said: “It is true that the outbound market for Indonesia is big and still growing. But at the end of the day, the question is who will be more successful. This depends on how we negotiate with the airlines and banks.”

Most agents quizzed by TTG Asia e-Daily revealed that they would most likely participate in both fairs.

(Sources: TTGAsia)