RI tourism facing stiff rivalry<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia, anticipating stiffer competition from
\nneighboring countries in the Southeast Asian region, will promote
\nits tourist industry consistently with adequate approaches, an
\nexecutive said.<\/p>\n
\"We don't have to worry if some countries in the Southeast
\nAsian region join hand-in-hand to promote their tourist
\nindustries together,\" chairman of the Indonesian Tourism
\nPromotion Board Tanri Abeng said Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Several countries crossed by the Mekong River -- Thailand,
\nVietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and China -- agreed last month
\nin Bangkok to set up a joint tourism board to cooperate in the
\npromotions and developments of the tourist industry.<\/p>\n
The establishment of the tourism board of the countries the
\nMekong crosses through was pioneered by the Tourism Authority of
\nThailand.<\/p>\n
Tanri said Wednesday: \"Don't panic. But, we have to move more
\nquickly.\"<\/p>\n
He said that the Indonesian Tourism Promotion Board recently
\ncompleted a research on Indonesia's tourism products.<\/p>\n
\"Based on the research results, we can rearrange the products
\nand improve efficiency in order to avoid costly prices.\"<\/p>\n
Indonesia last year saw the arrivals of 4.3 million foreign
\ntourists, bringing in some US$5.2 billion in revenues for the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
The country has targeted the tourist industry as a major
\nforeign exchange earner with total revenues estimated to reach
\n$15 billion from 11 million visitors in 2005.<\/p>\n
In comparison, Thailand, with a well-promoted tourist
\nindustry, last year received 6.9 million visitors, while Vietnam
\nexpects to attract 1.7 million tourists this year and 3.5 million
\nin 2000.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Director General of Tourism Andi Mappi Sammeng said
\nWednesday that Indonesia must anticipate competition from the
\nMekong River countries.<\/p>\n
\"I think, however, it will take a longer time for the
\ncountries in preparing human resources to improve services,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
As in Vietnam, tourists still face difficulties in Laos and
\nMyanmar due to the poor quality of accommodation, the limited
\nnumber of hotel staff and guides who can speak English,
\ntransportation problems, bureaucracy and a lack of
\ninfrastructure. (icn)<\/p>",
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