Bintan Resorts Strengthens Indian Market Presence With Travel Trade Workshops Across Jaipur, Lucknow, and Indore
Bintan Resorts, a premier island destination in Indonesia’s Riau Islands, has taken a bold step toward deepening its connection with India’s outbound tourism sector. From June 11 to 13, 2025, the brand partnered with Travstarz Global Group, a leading Destination Management Company (DMC), to host a trio of high-impact travel trade workshops in Jaipur, Lucknow, and Indore.
Organized in collaboration with VFS Global – Tourism Services, the events aimed to engage high-performing Indian travel agents and showcase Bintan’s broad appeal as a tropical getaway just an hour away from Singapore by ferry.
Strategic Indian Engagement
India is currently the fifth-largest source of outbound tourists in the world, with over 29 million Indians projected to travel internationally by the end of 2025, according to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF). Recognizing this growth, Bintan Resorts’ focused outreach strategy targets India’s Tier 2 cities, where travel appetite is expanding rapidly.
Each city’s workshop drew over 35 influential travel professionals, selected for their market reach and experience in promoting Southeast Asian destinations. By holding the events during evening hours, organizers maximized participation and ensured meaningful discussions.
VFS Global and Travstarz: Strengthening Market Access
The sessions were led by Ms. Shakambri Soni from VFS Global – Tourism Services, a key strategic ally of Bintan Resorts in India. VFS Global has played a vital role in enhancing destination visibility for emerging Asian locales.
Meanwhile, Travstarz Global Group, a respected B2B travel services provider, offered invaluable expertise as a DMC with longstanding experience in curating Southeast Asia travel for Indian agencies. Their support helped ensure the workshops were tailored to the expectations of the Indian outbound travel trade.
What Makes Bintan a Preferred Choice for Indian Travelers?
Located just 60 minutes by ferry from Singapore’s Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, Bintan Island is increasingly seen as a cost-effective luxury destination with a diverse offering of activities. From golf resorts like Ria Bintan Golf Club, to family-friendly beachfront stays at Nirwana Gardens, Bintan combines island serenity with accessibility.
During the workshops, Indian agents were introduced to:
- Luxury beach resorts and villa stays
- World-class golf courses
- Adventure tourism (e.g., mangrove tours, ATV rides)
- Romantic honeymoon packages
- MICE-ready infrastructure for corporate events
Bintan also stands out for its clean environment and cultural blend, offering both Malay-Indonesian heritage and modern tourism amenities. These features align perfectly with the Indian traveler’s increasing preference for short-haul, experience-rich getaways that offer value without compromising on luxury.
Targeting Key Travel Segments: Families, Honeymooners, and MICE
A key goal of the workshops was to train Indian travel agents on segment-specific packages, helping them match Bintan’s offerings to their clientele. Bintan is ideal for:
- Family holidays, with activities for all age groups
- Honeymooners, thanks to romantic beachfront resorts and spa experiences
- Adventure seekers, drawn by water sports and eco-tourism
- MICE planners, who seek international-standard venues for meetings and incentive travel
By addressing these segments, the workshops reinforced Bintan’s capacity to cater to India’s diversified travel appetite, especially as demand rises for new Southeast Asian destinations beyond Bali, Thailand, and Malaysia.
A Long-Term Commitment to the Indian Market
These workshops mark only the beginning of Bintan Resorts’ strategic roadmap to capture Indian travelers, a segment seen as pivotal to Southeast Asia’s post-pandemic tourism recovery. The events also fostered new trade collaborations and reinforced existing partnerships with Indian agencies, who now have a stronger understanding of the island’s tourism infrastructure.
Bintan’s government, through PT Bintan Resort Cakrawala, continues to support sustainable tourism by promoting eco-friendly practices and cross-border travel through Singapore. This includes improved ferry scheduling, smoother visa facilitation, and enhanced tourism training for hospitality stakeholders on the island.
Outlook: Brighter Horizons for Bintan and Indian Tourists
As Indian travel demand surges across Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities, Bintan is poised to become a major draw for vacationers seeking an alternative to Bali or Phuket. With its strategic location, wide-ranging experiences, and supportive trade relations, Bintan’s appeal to Indian travelers is growing stronger.
The collaborative workshops in Jaipur, Lucknow, and Indore are expected to translate into real bookings and wider brand recognition for the island in the coming seasons.
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