Macao an option for Bali visitors

Andi Haswidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Often dubbed the Asian Las Vegas, Macau is set to become one of the most sought after destinations for both Indonesian tourists and gamblers after direct flights from Jakarta to Macau commence Dec. 22.

New airline Viva Macau announced Wednesday that it would launch services to Jakarta this month, with fares starting from as low as US$10.99, excluding taxes.

“Our introductory fares from Jakarta represent the best value for money available in Asian skies today and bring the whole of Southern China within affordable reach of a vast new market in Indonesia,” Viva Macau CEO Andrew Pyne told the media in Jakarta.

“Macau is also a convenient low cost base from which to explore the attractions of Hong Kong — just one hour away by ferry,” he added.

Pyne said Viva Macau would fly to Jakarta three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays beginning Dec. 22, while the special introductory fare was valid for travel until Jan. 31, 2007.

“This period will give Indonesians more chances to travel with friends and family during the holiday season and into the New Year,” he said.

Meanwhile, tour packages are also on offer at prices of between $300 and $550 per person, depending on the cities and attractions visited. The tours include airfare, accommodation, and sightseeing trips.

The airline offers two cabin classes — star class and economy class, to which the introductory fares apply, and superstar or business class, where the prices start from $250, which is about the same price as a Jakarta-Hong Kong economy fare on a full-service airline.

The introductory fares will only be applied to 10 percent of the total seats in the economy class.

In addition to Jakarta, the airline will also start flying from Macau to Phuket and the Maldives in December.

Viva Macau, Pyne said, was targeting around 60,000 Indonesian passengers during its first year flying the Jakarta route.

“Currently, Macau receives around 20,000 Indonesian visitors coming through Hong Kong, with the growth rate being 50 percent per year. Presently, we have three aircraft, which we will increase to four in spring and then five next summer,” he said.

With the commencement of Viva Macau’s operations, inbound traffic to Macau is expected to increase significantly. Indonesia is ranked 5th in terms of visitor growth, according to a recent Pacific Asia Travel Association report on Macau.

The number of visits from Indonesia registered 41.8 percent growth between January and October 2006, compared to the same period last year. The recent addition of world-class casinos developed by Las Vegas-based groups, and the development of more family-oriented entertainment facilities, coupled with Macau’s rich cultural heritage, have contributed to the boom.

Macau hit a new tourism record in November with 20 million visitors since the start of 2006. Officials said the total would exceed 20 million by the end of the year, assuming the 15.85 percent year-on-year growth seen in the first 10 months is sustained.

Tourism arrivals have doubled since 2002, when the former Portuguese enclave reformed its casino ownership laws, breaking a 40-year monopoly held by tycoon Stanley Ho, so as to allow foreign investors into the sector.