Austria Tourism and Traveloka Signed an MoU to Jointly Promote the 'Heart of Europe' to Southeast Asian Tourists

Jakarta, Indonesia (13 May 2024) — Austria Tourism, Austria's national tourism organization, and Traveloka, Southeast Asia's leading travel platform, today signed an MoU at AYANA Midplaza Jakarta to jointly promote Austria as a tourist destination to the people of Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand through online marketing campaigns and offline activities.

Emanuel Lehner-Telič, Head of Markets, Asia-Pacific of Austria Tourism, inked the MoU on behalf of Austria Tourism, witnessed by Susanne Kraus-Winkler, the State Secretary for Tourism in Austria. Traveloka's Co-Founder Albert did the same as the company's representative.

The event also saw Thomas Loidl (Austria's Ambassador to Indonesia) and representatives from Austria's tourism ministry and Traveloka in attendance.

In 2023, Austria had 350,000 overnights from travelers from Southeast Asia after successfully recovering from COVID-19, compared to about 452,000 overnights from the region in 2019. Last year, 111 million overnight visits were recorded from international tourists, making Austria one of the leading tourist destinations in the world. Its influential history, rich culture, and fascinating landscape have made it one of the most visited European countries by international tourists.

The MoU comes as Austria eagerly welcomes more Southeast Asian tourists this year and beyond. Located in the heart of Europe, the country boasts the majestic Alps mountain range that covers nearly two-thirds of the Austrian territory. It is also home to beautiful rivers and lakes with drinking water quality, world-class ski and wellness resorts, centuries-old cities, culinary traditions including the Viennese coffee house culture, prominent Salzburg opera and music festivals, as well as romantic Christmas markets.

Austria Tourism's MoU with Traveloka is set to end in June 2025. Planned marketing campaigns and activities will include ad placements on Traveloka's website and application, social media ads on Traveloka's social media platforms, dedicated Austria pages to increase awareness, and more. Before this cooperation, Austria Tourism shifted most of its attention to the business-to-business (B2B) sector, focusing on partnering with travel agencies in Southeast Asian countries and organizing educational workshops and familiarization trips.

Emanuel Lehner-Telič, Austria Tourism's Head of Markets, Asia-Pacific, said: "Traveloka, as the largest online travel platform in Southeast Asia, is our strong partner in the region to promote Austria as a holiday destination and to strengthen its popularity."

"We are looking forward to working more closely together when it comes to choosing an attractive destination in the heart of Europe," he added.

For over a decade, Traveloka has been at the forefront of driving the growth of the tourism industry in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Operating in six Southeast Asian countries, Traveloka works closely with various stakeholders, including government sectors, local travel agencies, and international tourism organizations representing popular destinations worldwide. The signing of this MoU indicates Traveloka's unwavering commitment to connecting even more Southeast Asian travelers with global tourism destinations and building a sustainable global tourism ecosystem.

Albert, Co-Founder, Traveloka, said, “At Traveloka, we firmly believe in the transformative power of technology to enhance people’s travel experience. Our partnership with Austria Tourism aims to leverage our innovative solutions to provide travelers with seamless access to Austria's diverse offerings, including its charming cities, majestic mountains, and captivating history.”

Susanne Kraus-Winkler, Austria's State Secretary for Tourism, said: "Tourism is connecting people and fosters the ties between Austria and Southeast Asia."

"Austria is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe. In the future, we want to attract more Southeast Asian, in particular, Indonesian guests and would like to welcome them to our country with its rich European history and its nature in the midst of the Alps," she added.

This year, Austria's Salzkammergut region was named the European Capital of Culture 2024. The country is also gearing up for the 60th anniversary of the release of the Oscar-winning film The Sound of Music, filmed in Salzburg, in 2025.