G20 - Group of Twenty Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors

08/03/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/03/2022 21:23

MOTCE Ready to Hold IWTCF 2022 in Solo City to Promote Indonesia’s Wellness Tourism

Jakarta, August 3rd 2022 - Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (MOTCE) is going to hold one of the G20 Summit side events, namely the "International Wellness Tourism Conference & Festival (IWTCF) 2022", at the Alila Hotel Solo, Central Java, on August 5-7, 2022.

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf), Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, in a statement in Jakarta, Tuesday (2/8/2022), explained that the presence of the 2022 IWTCF is a form of collaboration between the MOTCE with the Indonesia Wellness Institute and the Government of Surakarta/Solo City to promote Indonesia as a wellness tourism destination.

In addition, IWTCF will be a creative space to showcase Indonesian wellness products. It is also to support one of the G20 priority sectors namely strengthening global health, as well as building networks and collaborations. The MOTCE itself targets 300 offline participants and 1,000 online participants.

"Health tourism is now a new lifestyle; it is even an unstoppable trend. During the pandemic, many people want to be healthier and fitter. Indonesia itself, especially Solo City, Yogyakarta, and Bali, is an area with good quality of various wellness products. Thus, this is the right moment for us to promote our wellness tourism products," according to Menparekraf.

The 2022 IWTCF itself carries the theme "A Sustainability Strategy For The World Tourism Recovery And Growth Through Wellness Tourism For All. The theme was taken because at this time, collaboration with all stakeholders is the key to the recovery of tourism and creative economy globally, especially in the wellness tourism which is projected to be a driving force for the global economy.

This event offers various series of interesting activities. For three days, starting from August 5-7, 2022, there will be a conference presenting more than 30 speakers from G20 member countries, ASEAN, including Indonesia.

Then, a workshop to make aromatherapy and Indonesian herbal drink (jamu), to feel the sensation of a traditional spa, and meditation. There is also an exhibition that includes the category of personal care and beauty, healthy food, and traditional medicine. Not to mention a business matching that will bring together wellness tourism business actors and potential investors.

On August 8-18, 2022, the MOTCE brings a Wellness Experience Trip which includes nine

(9) One Day Trip packages in Solo Raya, Yogyakarta, and Bali, as well as six (6) Over Night Trip packages in destinations from Central Java to Bali. This Wellness Experience Trip refers to the "A Journey for Healthy Life" wellness tourism travel pattern that has been compiled and published by the MOTCE in 2020.

Menparekraf Sandiaga expected that through the 2022 IWTCF, Indonesia's wellness tourism will be better known by foreign tourists. "We hope that after this, there will be more tourists to come to Indonesia to enjoy wellness tourism products that we have," he added.

Deputy for Tourism Products and Events of the MOTCE, Rizki Handayani, added that according to the name of the activity, Wellness Tourism Trip not only present a field-trip to Central Java and Bali, but this activity also offers the experience, because everything is arranged starting from the food, travel, activities, so that it will be very interesting and a memorable experience.

"I expect that later, Indonesian wellness tourism can be top of mind for domestic and foreign tourists. Going forward, in addition to these three areas that become wellness tourism destinations, other cities in Indonesia also need to be developed. Because Indonesia has so many natural, cultural, and traditional richness that is an important asset for wellness tourism, such as herbal products, herbal drinks, aromatherapy, meditation, retreats, healthy food, and so on," Rizki Handayani said.