Tourism could start turnaround in 1999<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian tourist industry is expected to
\nsee signs of recovery in 1999 after a major setback this year, a
\nsenior official at the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture said
\non Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Director General of Tourism I Gde Ardhika said that although
\nthe number of foreign tourist arrivals would be around the same
\nlevel as this year, signs of recovery would be seen in most of
\nthe country's tourist-related sectors.<\/p>\n
\"Although it is very hard to predict due to the country's
\nuncertain condition, we expect no further declines in the number
\nof foreign tourist arrivals, and we may begin to see positive
\ngrowth next year,\" Ardhika said at the ministry's year-end media
\nbriefing.<\/p>\n
\"If the situation continues to be favorable next year, and
\nwith effective promotion, we expect that we could see four
\nmillion visitors.\"<\/p>\n
Ardhika did not, however, reveal the foreign exchange earnings
\ntarget from tourism next year.<\/p>\n
He said that foreign tourist arrivals in Indonesia through 11
\nmain ports of entry only totaled 2.9 million during the period of
\nJanuary to October, while foreign revenues from international
\nvisitors fell to US$2.9 billion during this period, drops of 18.6
\npercent and 19.5 percent respectively compared to the same period
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
Based on these numbers, it is estimated that the number of
\nforeign tourist arrivals will reach about 3.5 million by the end
\nof December, a 30 percent drop compared to last year's figure of
\n5 million visitors.<\/p>\n
The government earlier predicted that the number of foreign
\ntourists visiting the country could reach 4.8 millions for the
\nyear.<\/p>\n
The drop in arrivals was attributed to reports of widespread
\nriots in the country, which peaked in May when hundreds of
\nshopping centers, banks and other properties were burned. The
\ndeadly riots, which left hundreds of people dead, forced former
\npresident Soeharto to resign after 32 years in power.<\/p>\n
Political tensions in the country's major cities following the
\nMay riots also discouraged foreign tourists from visiting
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
In 1997, the number of foreign tourist arrivals was 5.04
\nmillion, below the targeted 5.3 million. However, this figure
\nmatched 1996's foreign tourist arrivals.<\/p>\n
Foreign exchange receipts from the tourist industry in 1997
\nwere $6.62 billion, about $1 billion below the original target.<\/p>\n
Ardhika said that the increase in the number of foreign
\nvisitors is expected to come from Indonesia's traditional tourist
\nmarkets; Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands,
\nFrance, Australia and the United States.<\/p>\n
\"We will focus our promotion efforts on these seven
\ntraditional markets, and we hope that Japan is not experiencing a
\ndownturn in its economy,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that in the past several years, 60 percent of foreign
\ntourists visiting Indonesia came from Asian countries, while the
\nremaining came from Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia
\nand New Zealand.<\/p>\n
\"But these Asian markets do not have as much potential anymore
\nbecause of the economic crisis in Asia,\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, he said that the stirrings of economic recovery in
\nseveral Asian countries would help Indonesia increase its number
\nof foreign visitors.<\/p>\n
Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Marzuki Usman said that
\nhis ministry would also try to expand the tourism market into
\nChina and Middle Eastern countries.<\/p>\n
\"I'm very optimistic about the growth of the tourism industry.
\nIn 1999, the economies of the U.S. and European countries will
\ncontinue to grow, while Japan's economy will recover. Also,
\nChinese tourists have sharply increased this year, and Middle
\nEastern tourists are not afraid of the situation here because
\nthey have become accustomed to tense situations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the media briefing, Marzuki said that his ministry
\nwould also invite tour operators and foreign travel writers to
\nvisit Indonesia in January.<\/p>\n
\"We will also use TV coverage to counter negative reports by
\nthe foreign media which have severely tarnished the country's
\nimage and prompted many tourists to cancel their trips here,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He added that the ministry had cooperated with Indonesian
\nembassies and overseas student organizations to help improve the
\nimage of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Ardhika predicted that foreign tourist arrivals
\nwould return to the precrisis level of over five million visitors
\nin 2003. (gis)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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