Bali Travel Mart opens with optimism<\/p>\n
By I. Christianto<\/p>\n
KUTA, Bali (JP): Indonesia is set to launch a series of
\npromotional programs to reinvigorate a tourist industry which has
\nbeen mired in a slump for the past two years, Minister of
\nTourism, Arts and Culture Marzuki Usman said after opening the
\nBali Travel Mart (BTM) here on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"Last year we saw only 4.6 million visitors. This year we
\npredict we will welcome some 5 million. In the year 2000, we
\nestimate that number will reach 6 million,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia enjoyed 20 percent annual growth in tourist arrivals
\nbefore the economic crisis hit the country in mid-1997, followed
\nby a political crisis and sectarian and tribal violence in
\nseveral areas in Java, West Kalimantan and Maluku.<\/p>\n
Marzuki told those attending the trade fair that the country
\nwas now a safe destination for tourists.<\/p>\n
\"We have entered the era of democracy and the general election
\nran peacefully and fairly without any violence as many had
\nfeared,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The opening ceremony, which was attended by Bali Governor I
\nDewa Made Baratha, was held at Kuta Center near the island's
\nfamed Kuta Beach. Attendees at the event were entertained by
\ntraditional Balinese music and dances.<\/p>\n
Travel industry executives expressed confidence that effective
\npromotion could help the country's tourist industry post a quick
\nrecovery.<\/p>\n
An executive at PT Aerowisata, a subsidiary of national flag
\ncarrier Garuda Indonesia, Netty Djohan Kalalo, said the
\ngovernment had taken the right step in joining forces with the
\nprivate sector to re-establish the image of Indonesia as a
\ntourist destination by holding the Bali Travel Mart.<\/p>\n
\"As part of the travel-related industry, Aerowisata will
\nparticipate in rebuilding the country's good image,\" she said,
\nadding that Bali was the right location to host the event.<\/p>\n
She said Bali was the most popular tourist destination in
\nIndonesia and \"therefore BTM would be an effective promotion
\nbecause buyers are going to come here to look at the situation
\nthemselves\".<\/p>\n
Aerowisata operates several businesses, including travel,
\nhotel and catering services.<\/p>\n
A director of Merdeka Tours in Bali, Frans S. Sidharta, said
\nBTM would show the world that Indonesia, particularly Bali, was
\nsafe.<\/p>\n
\"There are some buyers from new markets like Slovakia taking
\npart in BTM, so hopefully we can secure new business,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The executive chairman of BTM, Maman Sunarsa, said the event
\nwas held in Bali because buyers could visit all the attractions
\nin Bali after the fair ended.<\/p>\n
\"It is necessary for Indonesia to continue participating in
\noverseas travel events like those in Berlin, London, Geneva and
\nSingapore. But by hosting a travel event, it will allow buyers to
\nsee and visit the destinations and attractions in Indonesia,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the head of the provincial office of the Ministry
\nof Tourism, Arts and Culture, Luther Barrung, who is also BTM
\nchairman, said the travel fair was a complement to the annual
\nTourism Indonesia Mart & Expo held in Jakarta in September.<\/p>\n
The Bali Travel Mart is focusing on showing buyers that Bali
\nand the whole of Indonesia is developing, upgrading its
\ninfrastructure and creating new products to keep the island and
\nthe country beautiful.<\/p>\n
Bali is expected to help reinvigorate the country's tourist
\nindustry. In the first three months of this year, Bali's Ngurah
\nRai Airport recorded a 23.15 percent increase in tourist
\narrivals. The airport, serving 15 international airlines, is now
\nthe country's main gateway, replacing Soekarno-Hatta
\nInternational Airport in Jakarta, which fell to third position
\nbehind Batam.<\/p>\n
There are 103 star-rated hotels with more than 16,300 rooms in
\nBali, in addition to 1,283 non-star-rated hotels with a total of
\n16,032 rooms.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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