Karen Yue, reporting for TTGmice, Singapore (2010-11-02)

BINTAN Resorts International (BRI), the destination marketing group for the Indonesian island, is looking at meetings and incentives to help it achieve a balanced weekday/weekend ratio.

BRI director of marketing Asad Shiraz said weekday average occupancy rate was some 20 to 30 per cent lower than over the weekends.

“Bintan could do with more traffic on weekdays. We have the infrastructure to support meeting and incentive groups, from large halls and unique outdoor venues to teambuilding spaces and activity suppliers. Theme parties are not a problem, and there are local cultural activities that corporate groups can enjoy,” Shiraz said.

To this end, BRI will participate in specialised trade shows such as the Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo in Melbourne next year, and conduct stronger promotions targeted at its key source markets of India, Australia and Singapore, and emerging markets like China.

Shiraz added that Bintan’s proximity to Singapore and affordable weekday rates compared to the latter's would encourage event planners to combine both destinations by having the weekday programme in Bintan and weekend in Singapore.

“Singapore is a sticky destination now because of its new attractions, so Bintan has not truly benefited from the tourism spillover. But that is just a short-term effect. Bintan’s arrivals have always grown in tandem to Singapore’s,” he said.

Bintan is aiming for a million arrivals by 2015.