Iraq war to affect local tourist industry<\/p>\n
Ainur R. Sophiaan and A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post,
\nSurabaya\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The tourist industry, especially in East Java and West Java,
\nis bracing for a slump in case the Iraq war is drawn out, said
\nlocal leaders in the industry on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The expected decline is mainly caused by transportation
\nproblems and tourists' concern for their safety, they said
\nseparately.<\/p>\n
Natsir, an official at the tourism office of the East Java
\nadministration, predicted that the tourist industry in the
\nprovince might decrease by 50 percent due to the Iraq war.<\/p>\n
The decline was attributed to feelings of insecurity among
\ntourists as their flights would pass the war zone in the Middle
\nEast en route to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"Due to the fear, it is certain that they would cancel their
\nplan to visit Indonesia," said Natsir.<\/p>\n
Western tourists, mostly from Germany and the Netherlands,
\nusually visit archaeological sites, such as Panataran Temple in
\nBlitar, museums or watch traditional puppet shows.<\/p>\n
Such a gloomy outlook is also foreseen in West Java, said
\nMemet H. Hamdan, the head of tourism office of the West Java
\nadministration. He said that European and Middle-Eastern tourists
\nmight shy away from visiting the province due to the Iraq war.<\/p>\n
Initially, Hamdan admitted that the flights, especially from
\nEurope, could take an alternative route in order to avoid the war
\nzone.<\/p>\n
However, this was not an option for tourists, because taking
\nan alternative route would mean they would take longer to reach
\nIndonesia and cost them more money, he said.<\/p>\n
He said the expected decline in the number of Middle-Eastern
\nand European tourists visiting Indonesia would affect the
\nprovincial revenue.<\/p>\n
"Some 30 percent to 35 percent of the 300,000 tourists
\nvisiting West Java annually come from the Middle East," said
\nHamdan as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Besides transportation problems, local sentiments, could also
\ncause a downturn in the industry.<\/p>\n
They said that, the anti-U.S. rallies would discourage
\ntourists from coming to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"We must be prudent in responding to developments in the Iraq
\nwar, so that Western tourists are still interested in visiting
\nIndonesia," Setyanto P. Santosa, the head of the Indonesian
\nTourism and Cultural Development Agency, told Antara.<\/p>\n
In order to survive, local leaders in the tourist industry
\nagreed that they must attract local tourists.<\/p>\n
"Don't undervalue the local tourists. They have the potential
\nto keep the local tourist industry afloat," said Natsir.<\/p>\n
In West Java, according to Hamdan, most tourists are local. In
\nWest Java some 36 million to 37 million local tourists visit
\ntourist attractions in West Java annually.<\/p>\n
"Local tourist enterprises must be sharp in observing this
\npotential, so that the predicted decline in the local tourist
\nindustry due to Iraq war does not materialize," said Hamdan.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/iraq-war-to-affect-local-tourist-industry-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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