Someone help Unspun here please.

Can anyone explain how a “senior” singer such as Eddy Silitonga, him of the cheesy mustache and unkempt haircut, is going to attract droves of tourists to Indonesia’s shores?

Does the Tourism Minister, in his infinite wisdom and impeccable taste, think that Eddy will appeal to would be tourists in 49 countries. Perhaps the Minister is looking for geriatric tourists, on the belief that the old geezers have more money to spend on Indonesian healthcare while visiting this fair archipelago.

Or perhaps, shudder of shudders, the Minister finds Eddy such a sexy singee that women in the four corners of the world would want to flock to Indonesia after they see and hear Eddy perform. Or is it that he bears an uncanny resemblance to the inimitable Roy Suryo?

The savior of Indonesian tourism? The sex magnet to bored housewives abroad?

And while we tax our little grey cells about Eddy we might want to spare some energy wondering the need for the Support Team, “which will monitor and support the logistics during the journey.”

The choice of advisors for this team for a fading singer is none other than top flight lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis and the inspector general of the National Police Agus Wantoro, who will “help the program succeed”.

What do they know about music? What do they know about tourism? What do advisors of the support team do in such trips? The mind boggles.

This story in The Jakarta Post:

Senior singer appointed as tourism envoy

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Tue, 02/09/2010 3:25 PM | Business

Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik has appointed Eddy Silitonga, a senior Indonesian singer, Indonesian tourism envoy, traveling around the world to promote the country’s tourism.

The journey will include visits to 49 countries on five continents within nine months, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

Silitonga’s program as a tourism envoy will basically cover three main activities: singing at the various places he visits such as cafes, restaurants and hotels; people-to-people contact with local communities and tourists; and organizing “Indonesian Art Nights” at all Indonesian embassies in the countries he will visit.

Two groups will support the program to be dubbed the “The Indonesian Team for Culture and Tourism Promotion by Eddy Silitonga”.

The first group will be called the “Journey Team” consisting of six people, including Eddi Silitonga, who will travel to the 49 countries. And the second group will be the “Support Team”, which will monitor and support the logistics during the journey.

Todung Mulya Lubis, a prominent lawyer, and inspector general of the National Police Agus Wantoro, are advisors to the journey team to help the program succeed.

The program will be implemented from April 16, 2010 to January 10, 2011, Antara reported.

via Senior singer appointed as tourism envoy | The Jakarta Post.

11 thoughts on “Indonesian tourism’s secret weapon?

  1. You’re right, the mind boggles. Somehow, though, I sense some similarities with some of the equally dubious tourism junkets Malaysia has done in the past (and maybe present, too).

    Targeting the geriatric market is also something Malaysia has been focusing on, which is why (for me, at least) domestic tourism in Malaysia can be downright boring.

    Indonesia, on the other hand, is richer and more diverse culturally, and that in itself is a more powerful attraction.


  2. LOL LOL LOL, if it’s about go around the world performing Indonesian / ethnic music / folksongs or sumthin’ like that, they should work with the one and only Vicky Sianipar!!!

    Sorry, but Bang Eddy Silitonga is like an old singer even in my mum’s era 😀


  3. Using celebrities to help build brands is nothing new and can be effective if the target market relates to the celebrity.

    But it is only one tactic in a destination branding process that requires integration across multiple stakeholders and the ability to offer economic, experiential and emotional value to targetted and different stakeholders.

    What many countries think is that a one-size-fits-all mass market advertising and communications campaign coupled with a celebrity visiting 49 countries on five continents in nine months will build a destination brand.

    This is not the case.


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