Foreign companies invited to develop tourist resorts<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government plans to invite foreign investors
\nto develop several areas into resorts to boost the country's
\ntourist industry.<\/p>\n
"Based on studies funded by overseas technical assistance, in
\nthe near future there will be opportunities open for foreign
\ninvestors in the tourist business, comprising hotels, resorts and
\ntourist attractions," Director General of Post and
\nTelecommunications Djakaria Purawidjaja said here yesterday.<\/p>\n
He was speaking during a session of the World Infrastructure
\nForum Asia 1994.<\/p>\n
He said foreign investors are welcome to develop classified
\nhotels and possibly to open other business activities in or near
\nhotel compounds and resorts.<\/p>\n
He explained that investors interested in establishing hotels
\nwould be allowed to develop a minimum of 100 hectares and a
\nmaximum of 1,500 hectares. He also encouraged investors to
\ndevelop marine-tourism, eco-tourism, agro-tourism, adventure and
\nmeeting, incentive, conference and exhibition (MICE) facilities.<\/p>\n
He said most tourist resorts are now developed by state-owned
\ncorporations, including those located in Nusa Dua, Bali, (350
\nhectares) and Manado, North Sulawesi, (100 hectares). The Bali
\nfacility began operating in 1982, while the North Sulawesi resort
\nopened in 1991.<\/p>\n
Djakaria said the resorts currently under construction are
\nlocated in Biak, Irian Jaya, (325 hectares), Belitung (600
\nhectares), Bintan (19,000 hectares), and Lampung in southern
\nSumatra (300 hectares). A 600-hectare plot in Lombok, West Nusa
\nTenggara, is under preparation for construction.<\/p>\n
Djakaria also said there are several private companies
\ncurrently developing tourist facilities in Pandeglang and
\nLembang, both in West Java, Sumba Island in East Nusa Tenggara,
\nand Parai on Bangka Island in South Sumatra.<\/p>\n
More plans<\/p>\n
The government also plans to develop other resorts in Padang,
\nWest Sumatra; Nias, North Sumatra; Baturaden, Central Java, and
\nUjungpandang, South Sulawesi, Djakaria said.<\/p>\n
Secretary-General of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant
\nAssociation Rianto Nurhadi told The Jakarta Post yesterday that
\nthe government's plan is good, but must be followed up with the
\ndevelopment of supporting business activities in surrounding
\nareas.<\/p>\n
"We can't just rely on the tourist industry. We should prepare
\nsupporting facilities such as airports, ports, telecommunications
\nfacilities and other infrastructure," he said.<\/p>\n
He worried at the fact that the government has apparently
\nfailed to get private companies to develop Lombok as a tourist
\nresort due to inadequate support facilities.<\/p>\n
The president of the state-owned tourism development company
\nPT Bali Tourism Development Corporation, Nadirsjah Zein, said
\nrecently that the main problem hampering the development of
\ntourist centers is the absence or poor condition of airports. He
\nsaid this is causing investors to be wary of investing in hotels
\ndue to the fear of having very few tourist arrivals.<\/p>\n
Rianto stressed that the government should consider rethinking
\nregulations on land ownership, if foreign investors are to be
\nwelcome to develop large sites for tourism.<\/p>\n
"So far many foreign companies only manage hotels and
\nresorts," he said, adding that some of them participate in small-
\nscale ownership, or procure property using the names of their
\ndomestic partners. (rid\/icn)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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