Govt launches tourism plan after Oct. 12 terror attack<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government has launched a wide-ranging recovery program to
\nhelp the nation and Bali's economy cope with a likely slump in
\nthe overall economy following the deadliest terrorist attack this
\ncountry has ever seen.<\/p>\n
In yet another sign of how devastating the attack was, Hadi
\nPurnomo estimated the potential loss of tax revenue could amount
\nto Rp 10.8 trillion (about US$1.17 billion) in the final two plus
\nmonths this year alone.<\/p>\n
To address the immediate impact on the tourism sector, the
\nprogram called on businesses and all local governments to
\nencourage domestic tourists to go to Bali or remain in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"I call for my countrymen to spend their holidays here in the
\ncountry to help our tourism industry recover. Please don't spend
\nyour holiday abroad,\" said Coordinating Minister for the Economy
\nDorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti during a press conference on Friday.<\/p>\n
Senior economic ministers met on Friday for an emergency
\ncoordination meeting to draw up a recovery plan after the Bali
\nterrorist strike.<\/p>\n
More than 180 people are feared to have died after a powerful
\nbomb flattened a nightclub in Bali favored by foreign tourists.<\/p>\n
The tragedy has not only devastated the bastion of Indonesia's
\ntourism sector, it also sapped business confidence at a time when
\nIndonesia is struggling to lure more investment.<\/p>\n
Bali's annual contribution accounts for about one third of the
\nforeign tourism sector revenue, averaging some $5 billion a year.<\/p>\n
Executive chairman of the Indonesian Culture and Tourism Board
\nSetyanto P. Santoso said foreign tourists came mainly because of
\nBali. \"We must revive Bali, it's the gateway to other tourist
\ndestinations,\" Setyanto said in a separate press briefing. He
\nsaid around 12.6 million people had jobs -- and income -- related
\nto tourism.<\/p>\n
According to him, luring more domestic tourists to Bali would,
\nover time, attract foreign tourists back to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
To this end, minister Dorodjatun said the government planned
\nto tell state enterprises like national airline Garuda Indonesia
\nprovide promotional packages that were both cheap and attractive.<\/p>\n
\"After we're done with the clean up efforts we'll offer a
\nspecial holiday package with discounts from travel agents, hotels
\nand airlines,\" explained Secretary General of the Ministry of
\nCulture and Tourism Sapta Nirwandar.<\/p>\n
Dorodjatun also instructed state institutions not to cancel
\ntheir meetings, seminars or other activities they had planned for
\nBali.<\/p>\n
The World Tourism Organization (WTO) -- fearing a heightened
\ntravel fear as a result of the weekend's carnage would lead to a
\nbacklash against other tourist spots around the world -- plan to
\nestablish a Recovery Committee during its meeting in London next
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
A statement by Dorodjatun's office said that Indonesia would
\nuse the meeting to urge WTO member countries to persuade their
\nrespective governments not to issue travel advisories against
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Several countries have issued serious travel warnings for all
\nof Indonesia -- most of which, in the past, made Bali the
\nexception -- and are unlikely to drop them amid fresh reports of
\nmore attacks to come.<\/p>\n
Setyanto said the government must arrest those responsible for
\nthe Bali bomb blasts and beef up security in and around tourist
\ndestinations to regain tourists' confidence.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, the ministry of tourism is expected to come
\nout with a more aggressive global marketing approach.<\/p>\n
The statement said the government planned \"door-to-door
\nroadshows\" to international tourism communities foremost in Asia
\nand Southeast Asia where travelers make up the bulk of foreign
\ntourists arrivals.<\/p>\n
To lay out the details of the recovery plan, the government is
\nset to meet the Indonesian tourism community on Tuesday and
\nWednesday next week.<\/p>\n
Ministers also agreed to form a team among experts from the
\nNational Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) to assess the
\nimpact of the Bali bombing. That assessment is expected to be
\nmade public next week.<\/p>\n
The government is working with foreign lenders such as the
\nWorld Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to review
\nthe country's economic prospects post-Bali.<\/p>\n
Finance Minister Boediono said the government planned to ask
\nJapan to assist in providing aid to, among others, help rebuild
\nBali's damaged infrastructure after the explosion. Japan is
\nIndonesia's biggest bilateral creditor.<\/p>",
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