Tourism Breaking News
Indonesia Wellness Master Association (IWMA), Wellness & Healthcare Entrepreneur Association (WHEA) & Indonesia Wellness Spa Professional Association (IWSPA y/f INDSPA) with the support of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and BNI will inaugurate the biggest wellness festival in Indonesia, Indonesia Wellness Tourism International Festival (IWTIF) which will be held on 1-30 September 2021 virtually.
The opening of IWTIF 2021, carried out online and broadcast directly via IWTIF’s YouTube was inaugurated by the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, whereby the Deputy of Tourism Product and Event Organiser; Indonesian Embassy Representatives in Bangkok (Thailand), Den Haag (Netherlands), London (UK), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Indonesian Consulate Representatives in Cape Town (South Africa); regional government representatives from Central Java, Maluku, and Papua; Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs; Ministry of Industry; as well as wellness SMEs; Wellness Enthusiasts; and Indonesian diaspora were in attendance. The launching of this event is in line with the fact that Indonesia is in the 17th place in the world in terms of wellness tourism market, whereas wellness tourism is a pilot project to encourage and promote inclusive business in Indonesia.
The Covid-19 pandemic has majorly affected tourism businesses and others, especially in relation to health and nature-based activities. Local wisdom from approximately 1340 ethnic groups, herbs and spices as product ingredients, various cultural art as well as hospitality and act of services from Indonesian therapists can contribute towards developing the world’s wellness tourism. Local wisdom-based wellness or ethnowellness is the key for Indonesia to take part in the world stage and as a chance to recover the national economy from the tourism aspect.
Conversely, Indonesian SMEs are one of the most important supporters of the strength of the national economy. Referring to quick development of Indonesia’s beauty and wellness industry, then we must promote Indonesian wellness products made by local SMEs to the local and international communities so that devotion towards local product innovation can help the Indonesian society withstand the pandemic. www.kemenparekraf.go.id kemenparekraf.ri
Through IWTIF 2021, approximately 200 SMEs in the wellness sector will be exhibited virtually through various activities, such as wellness & tourism webinars, wellness training & workshop, online marketplace, games & doorprizes, and brand awarding; where it is accessible and can be attended publicly through the website www.iwtif.com.
This festival is international, involving 12 countries and cooperating with Indonesian Embassies and Diaspora within the related countries, and targeting approximately 500,000 local and international visitors during the period of its performance.
“I hope this event can proceed well and successfully with the support of all parties to achieve a collective aim, which is to rebuild Indonesia’s tourism and economy,” said Rizki Handayani, Deputy of Tourism Product and Event Organiser Sector of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.
Meanwhile, Agnes Lourda Hutagalung as the chairman of the IWTIF 2021 committee explained, “Indonesia Wellness Tourism Internasional Festival (IWTIF) was organised to conserve, promote, and make Indonesia’s ethnowellness as world cultural heritage, so Indonesia’s cultural potential through Indonesian SMEs’ herbal and wellness products can be recognised and enjoyed by local and international communities.”
IWTIF 2021 is expected to become a promotional event of Indonesia’s wellness tourism as a ‘top of mind’ of the local and internal market through the marketing and sale of products and services virtually so that it can contribute its economic value to the national economy through herbs & spices and wellness spa services in Indonesia with various multiplying effects.
