Indo Insider Tours, a new Australia-based tour provider offering premium experiences and unmatched expertise, has launched recently with the unveiling of its first tour package, a once-in-a-lifetime, all-access luxury trip to the Mandalika MotoGP in Lombok, Indonesia.
It’s a three-day experience with one of the MotoGP race teams where we meet the riders, the team tech, visit the garage and pit lane and really see the MotoGP up close and personal. Plus, there’s a three day VIP Suite above the pits, five days beachfront accommodation, parties including a dinner with guest speaker Simon Crafar.
To further add to the adrenaline-charged experience of a lifetime, Indo Insider Tours has developed a selection of optional adventures, including a day of track riding at Mandalika Circuit following in the racing lines of the MotoGP riders; as well as offroad riding tours through the jungles and along the beaches of Lombok.
Founded by former Indonesia Tourism Officer, Miriam Tulevski, and her husband, motorcycle racer and businessman, Ian Godwin, Indo Insider Tours offers curious travellers and thrill-seekers alike the advantage of Ms. Tulevski’s decades of experience and local contacts across Indonesia, making sure that tour guests get ‘the real Indonesia’; with access and experiences that normally only a local can offer.
Ms. Tulevski was proud to be launching Indo Insider Tours, and sharing her passion and knowledge of Indonesia to offer travellers the best of what the diverse country of exquisite islands has to offer.
“Having been intimately involved with the Indonesian tourism industry for many years, I can confidently say there is no other place like it: it’s like a world in one country,” Ms. Tulevski explained.
“Indo Insider Tours is about offering travellers something different and authentically Indonesian to our guests. We pride ourselves on offering curated premium experiences, designed for the curious, intrepid adventurer in all of us,” she continued.
In Indonesia motorbikes are more than just modes of transportation; they represent freedom, affordability, and accessibility in a diverse archipelago. The tropical climate and congested roads make motorbikes a practical choice. Affordability makes bikes and scooters a popular choice: according to a local Indonesian publication Otomotif there are about 128 million bikes in Indonesia in 2023.
The motorcycle community organises events, from races to leisurely rides, fostering a sense of community. Customisation also thrives, reflecting individuality, even though brands like Honda and Yamaha dominate the market. Additionally, the rise of ride-hailing services like Gojek and Grab has further cemented bikes as essential in urban mobility.
The recommencement of the MotoGP in Indonesia blew up the internet. With 120 million Facebook users, 110 million Instagramers and 24 million Indonesians on Twitter the internet lit up from Indonesia with MotoGP related search and share. Almost 92% of the global Twitter audience for the GP in 2022 came from Indonesia.
“For this year’s Indonesian GP the roads have been improved and so has parking around the circuit. There are new restaurants and bars and night markets and live music are planned. The streets will be filled with fans and the atmosphere will be pumping after hours. It’s the motorcycle festival of the year and all enthusiasts are welcome.” Ms. Tulevski told Driven Women Magazine.
Ms. Tulevski has always enjoyed hospitality – serving people, helping them have a good time. And it’s come full circle with the launch of her new travel company, Indo Insider Tours. Her first job after university was in Jakarta, Indonesia with an international public relations firm and she stayed.
“Over 8 years I worked my way up and was eventually managing a company. During this time, I travelled across Indonesia – from the jungles of Sumatra, to the temples of Java, the restaurants of Bali and scalloped beaches of Lombok, the old town of the capital Jakarta to the traditional villages of Sulawesi. And Indonesia has been like a drug for me ever since,” said Ms. Tulevski.
On returning from Indonesia Ms. Tulevski worked in export consulting with Australian Business Ltd, did an MBA and stepped out on my own in 2004. At the time Australia was in drought and water restrictions presented opportunities. Together with her husband they launched an award-winning water saving car washing brand ECLIPSE car care brand for Repco Australia and New Zealand, one of the career highlights for Ms. Tulevski.
Indonesia continued to feature in Ms. Tulevski’s life through not-for-profit work with the Australia Indonesia Business Council in NSW and was a founder of Australian student scholarships to Indonesia with the Australia Indonesia Business Council. The in 2016 a role came up representing Indonesia as the Visit Indonesia Tourism Office for Australia and Ms. Tulevski jumped at it. That program ended in 2022 and Indo Insider Tours was born.
“The desire to curate extraordinary experiences in Indonesia for curious travellers. The world is missing out on enriching holidays because they are not aware of what is available and how to do it. I want to change this. And I don’t want to die with regrets!” is what led Ms. Tulevski to this decision.
Career highlights for Ms. Tulevski have been many so far. From working with various stakeholders to create the best experience for race enthusiasts at the Indonesian Grand Prix to winning a major Australian Government project to promote Australia in Indonesia. And her work in securing corporate sponsorship to enable Australian students to study in Indonesia. But with such a diverse career Ms. Tulevski has also faced some challenges.
“I thought about this question [about challenges in her career] for a while. About the nature of challenges, where they come from and how to avoid them. I considered my personal experience as a start-up and what a different career path without challenges looks like. And finally, I thought about what I could share that might be useful to a reader facing their own career challenge.
Everyone who works experiences change. It’s the overarching theme in working life and it’s challenging. The more you want to grow and learn and achieve the bigger your challenges will be,” shared Ms. Tulevski.
In setting up this new travel business Ms. Tulevski has put herself out there. Ms. Tulevski has set goals which could be considered challenges: Clearly, she wants it to be successful, to surprise and delight her customers in a way that is profitable, to be professional and ultimately, she’d like to see more direct flights from Australia into new Indonesian destinations.
“The process to reach these goals is a challenge – and if I’m honest in these early days it’s stressful. Learning new technology is slow and I feel dumb sometimes. Working to achieve sales targets makes me feel nervous. Negotiating with stakeholders can be frustrating and the workload can feel overwhelming.
On some days you feel like a fire fighter in the middle of a bush fire. On other days, like when a customer trusts you with their holiday, you hit the peak of the mountain the view is spectacular, the breeze is cool and the sun is warm. These challenges play out viscerally in my body and mind…which leads to an important point. Challenges come. Resilience gets you through,” added Ms. Tulevski.
Ms. Tulevski is trying to manage challenges in several ways:
- Framing the challenge as part of a process and not an obstacle. I’m leaning into the process and progressing which means I am learning and growing and in turn the business will do the same. This is tiring and also incredibly satisfying.
- Getting comfortable with failure. I don’t like saying that because who wants to fail? It’s messy. Ugly even. So, I’m drawing on courage and some investment to take some risks. I remind myself if it doesn’t work it won’t kill me and if it does work I will have no regrets when my time comes.
- Mental and physical health. Always, but particularly now while I’m the fire fighter it’s important to maintain health. It’s all the stuff we know – some work life balance, cardio, good nutrition, time with friends and family and time in green space.
- The last one is to remind myself that progress is better than perfection. A lot of my challenges come from taking something that is good enough and trying to make it better or perfect. It’s all a balancing act and I’m working on that.
With the aim of providing guests with extraordinary experiences with Indo Insider Tours, Ms. Tulevski is enjoying the challenge and the freedom to do this. Currently she’s on the ride of her life with a course set to a spectacular destination; working towards it and trying to enjoy the detours along the way.
For more information about joining Ms. Tulevski on this adventure, visit www.indoinsidertours.com. If you make a booking for the 2023 VIP MotoGP tour and mention Driven Women Magazine you’ll get a bonus cocktail, massage and facial as a thank you!
Photographs Supplied.