By Uzma Ehtasham
KARACHI: Indonesia brought the curtain down on its three-day pitch to the Pakistani travel industry on Sunday, declaring its presence at the 2026 Pakistan Travel Mart a clear success, as tour operators reported surging demand for everything from Bali’s surf breaks to Yogyakarta’s ancient temples.
The delegation, led by the Indonesian consulate in Karachi, worked the floor of the Karachi Expo Centre from 3 to 5 April, pressing flesh and swapping brochures with dozens of local agents hungry for fresh outbound destinations.
By the time the last exhibitor began dismantling their stands, officials said the effort had already yielded several promising leads. Ahmad Syofian, the consul for economic affairs, described the response as “encouraging”, though he conceded that Bali remained the uncontested star of the show.
“Ask any Pakistani traveler to name one Indonesian destination, and nine times out of ten they will say Bali,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the event. “That is both a strength and a challenge. We want them to know there is so much more.” That “more”, according to the delegation, includes Lombok’s volcanic landscapes, Jakarta’s frenetic street-food scene, and the quiet cultural heft of Yogyakarta.
Officials stressed that they were not simply selling sun and sand, but rather a curated menu of immersive experiences: cooking classes in Ubud, wellness retreats in the hills, and village stays designed to spill tourist dollars into local economies. Dian Ratri, the consul for media, social and cultural affairs, framed the push as part of a larger, quieter diplomatic effort.
