Terming India as one of the most progressive markets, South East Asia's leading resort developers are offering special packages to woo more Indian tourists to the picturesque Indonesian island resort.
Bintan Lagoon Resort, overlooking the South China Sea, will appoint a direct general sales agent and set up a web portal for tourists in India as part of its Indian market strategy.
Tourist arrivals from India have grown by over 10 per cent annually in recent years on the island, some 45 minute ferry ride from Singapore.
"India is now our largest growth market in term of tourist arrivals, and we have planned out our marketing strategies," Michael Sengol, interim managing director of Bintan Lagoon Resort said.
Resorts on the remotely located Bintan are designed for bigger events including private Indian weddings and corporate conferences.
"We have made unique arrangements for Indian weddings, each of which is held over three days and three nights, with relatives and friends of 300 to 500 including chefs and cooks per wedding party. These weddings also bring in a wide variety of Indian cultural festivities," he told PTI.
"The weddings are held on golf courses spread across the 741.376-acres resort. In addition to the wedding stage, outdoor kitchens are set up for the wedding by Indian cooks and chefs who are flown-in for the big occasion," Sengol said.
Bintan Lagoon is also popular among Indian honeymoon couples as well as holidays for Indian families.
"We are also working with corporate India to host their meetings and conventions," said Asad Shiraz, marketing director at the Singapore-based BRI (Bintan Resort International), a 1991 Indonesian-Singapore government partnership in developing the island resorts.
