Govt policies
\nkilling tourism<\/p>\n
In his letter On shop-house hotels in Batam in The Jakarta
\nPost, April 18) Yohannes Yansen blames Batam's low hotel
\noccupancy on a downturn in the island's economy.<\/p>\n
The problem is not exclusive to Batam. Three other major
\ntourist destinations are even worse off: Tretes-Bromo, Yogyakarta
\nand Lake Toba. At least Batam has not yet gone into the downward
\nspiral of boarded up hotels and abandoned shopping areas that the
\nvisitor sees in Tretes and Lake Toba.<\/p>\n
For well-heeled tourists from the wealthy OECD countries,
\nIndonesia is losing its allure to destinations that more
\naggressively welcome foreigners, such as Thailand, Vietnam and
\nMalaysia.<\/p>\n
Indonesia should make up its mind whether it wants to welcome
\nforeign tourists or not. If it seriously wants this business, it
\nshould make a big effort to introduce real policies that make
\nguests feel welcome, such as useful tourist information, user-
\nfriendly airports and immigration procedures.<\/p>\n
While business-minded Singapore goes ahead with plans to build
\nlarge integrated casino resorts, Indonesia's stop-go policies
\nconfuse visitors -- do we want to be in the casino and nightlife
\nentertainment business or not?<\/p>\n
The government of wealthy Singapore said the other day that it
\ncannot afford to let the tourist dollar slip through its fingers.
\nIndonesia behaves as if it does not need the business.<\/p>\n
EVAN JONES
\nBatam<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-policies-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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