Indonesia to consider using migrants as tourism ambassadors

A community of Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism named “Generasi Pesona Indonesia” (GenPi), translating to “Wonderful Indonesia Generation,” has hinted at recruiting Indonesian migrant workers in the city to become their “informal” tourism ambassadors.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism’s deputy director of International Marketing for Greater China, Erwita Dianti, saw this opportunity during her visit to the Macau SAR for “Indonesia Sales Mission” last week.

In a report issued by a segment of Indonesian radio show Kumbang Toh! News, Dianti expressed the view that the 5,500 Indonesian migrant workers in the city, along with the 150,000 Indonesian migrants in Hong Kong, could participate as tourism ambassadors.

“The migrant workers in Macau and Hong Kong can join GenPI. This is a great idea. I will go back to Indonesia and inform [the relevant department] to seriously consider [a] visit [to] Macau and Hong Kong to do some training on [train] these migrant workers to join GenPI,” she said.

The official is considering the move as many of these migrant workers are active on social media platforms including Facebook, where they can help promote their country.

“I also encourage them to visit the ‘10 New Balis’ such as Lake Toba, Borobudur Temple, Labuan Bajo and the others, when they go back to Indonesia on a holiday,” said the official.

“They should experience [their own country] personally so they can [share] their experience [with] others, including their employers,” she added.

GenPi is a community of internet users, including bloggers, who have an interest in tourism, culinary arts, photography and other hobbies related to travel, who promote Indonesian tourism through their online posts on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.

Dianti also revealed that her delegation would join the Macau International Travel (Industry) Expo next year, explaining that their absence this year was due to late notice. LV