Bintan Resorts and VFS Global Join Forces to Attract Indian Travellers

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In a strategic move to access the vast Indian market, Bintan Resorts has teamed up with VFS Global, the world's leading outsourcing and technology service specialist, to promote Bintan Island in the Riau Islands Province of Indonesia as a top travel destination. The partnership was formally solidified with the signing of an agreement on 29 August 2024 at the Grand Lagoi Hotel in Bintan Resorts.

The collaboration aims to enhance Bintan Island's visibility and appeal, positioning it as a top choice for Indian travellers and welcoming them to enjoy the island’s wide range of offerings. Leveraging VFS Global's extensive network across India in all major and secondary cities and its strong connections with businesses, media, and corporate entities, the partnership is expected to boost tourism from India to Bintan Island.

Bintan Resorts is promoting tourism opportunities on the island, including its food, services, and hospitality, to ensure a comfortable experience. These features are expected to make Bintan Island a popular destination for Indian travellers.

"We are thrilled to announce our partnership with VFS Global to showcase the beauty and charm of Bintan Island to the Indian market," said Abdul Wahab, Chief Operating Officer of Bintan Resorts. "This collaboration will enhance Bintan's appeal as a top destination for Indian tourists. We are excited to welcome more visitors from India and provide them with exceptional experiences that only Bintan Island can offer," added Wahab.

The partnership is set to launch a focused marketing campaign in major Indian cities with the goal of establishing Bintan as a top travel destination alongside Singapore. The campaign will employ a dual destination strategy and will feature a captivating tagline that showcases Bintan's unique attractions, including family-friendly vacations, thrilling adventures, enticing culinary experiences, and special events such as weddings and MICE.

Promotions will primarily target digital and social media platforms, in partnership with influencers, B2B sales, workshops and familiarization trips for influencers and content creators. A key focus will be collaborating closely with travel trade partners to promote the island to their clients, utilizing VFS Global's extensive media network and connections to greatly enhance Bintan Island's visibility and draw in a large number of tourists.

"Working together, we will focus on increasing the number of Indian tourists visiting Bintan Island and enhancing their overall travel experience. A top priority for both partners is to reintroduce the attractions of Bintan Island to Indian audiences and make them aware of the convenience of travelling to the island from the shores of Singapore to enjoy themselves with their families or as part of small or large groups," stated G B Srithar, Head of Tourism Services at VFS Global.

"An analysis indicated that the Indian market offers an exciting opportunity for Bintan's tourism sector. In 2019, India was Singapore's third-largest source of visitors, accounting for approximately 1.4 million travellers. By the end of 2023, Singapore had welcomed 1.08 million Indian visitors. Bintan Island aims to attract and accommodate a significant portion of these travellers."

"By positioning Bintan Resorts as a complementary destination to Singapore and easily accessible by a hassle-free 60-minute ferry ride from the city-state, we aim to attract a double-digit share of Indian visitors," said Wahab.

The dual-destination approach aims to take advantage of two exceptional travel experiences. The signing event was attended by various stakeholders including Ni Made Ayu Marthini, Deputy Minister for Marketing at the Ministry of Tourism & Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia; Guntur Sakti, Head of the Tourism Office of the Riau Islands Province; Robby Kurniawan, Head of Bintan Regency; Arief Sumarsono, Head of the Tourism Office in Bintan Regency, Bintan Resorts Council, and other key figures from the travel and tourism industries and the media.