Indonesia’s Pavilion Awarded Second Best at ITB Berlin 2013
Carrying the theme “Wonderful Indonesia”, Indonesia’s Pavilion was awarded the Second Best Pavilion for the Asia, Australia, and Oceania region at ITB 2013, the biggest travel trade show in the world .
On Saturday evening 9th March 2013, the organizing Committee of the Internationale Tourismus-Börse
(ITB) Berlin 2013 presented the award to the Director General for
Marketing of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia,
Esthy Reko Astuti, and Director for International Promotion, Nia
Niscaya, during the Best Exhibitors Awards session.
Designed by Wilhelm Johannes, the Indonesian Pavilion was highlighted with the Indonesian legendary Seafaring icon: the Phinisi Schooner.
The pavilion was also based on the concept of Heart Matters initiated
by the Wonderful Indonesia Team. Heart Matters itself is a rendition of
all the elements which characterize the beauty of Indonesia, comprising
Humanity, Earth, and Art.
The majestic Phinisi Schooner itself is a masterpiece of the Bugis ethnic group who live near Makassar and
other parts of South Sulawesi. For centuries, these schooners have
plied the waters, journeying as far away as Malacca, Burma, Vietnam and
Australia. Today one can see these large traditional boats at anchor
along the Sunda Kelapa harbor in Jakarta and at the Ujung wharf of Surabaya unloading timber from Kalimantan, or at the Paotere harbor in Makassar, South Sulawesi, or even at the small port of Labuan Bajo on Flores. These traditional ships are still made using traditional techniques in many parts of South Sulawesi, especially at Bulukumba.
Highlighting the Phinisi Schooner as the
icon of the Pavilion, Indonesia’s representatives also aim to promote
marine tourism in Indonesia;as vast waters, including those related to
various marine-themed events that have been successfully held in the
Indonesian seas such as such as the Sail Bunaken, Sail Banda, Sail
Wakatobi-Belitung, and also the upcoming Sail Komodo and Sail Indonesia rallies.
