Travel industry warned of rates<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A senior tourism executive has warned
\nIndonesia's travel industry and related businesses to set
\nrealistic prices to survive global tourism competition.<\/p>\n
Managing director of the Indonesian Tourism Promotion Board,
\nWuryastuti Sunario, told The Jakarta Post here yesterday that
\ntravel-related prices were down, making competition in the world
\ntourism industry fiercer.<\/p>\n
\"This does not mean we have to cut prices like airfares or the
\nprices of hotel rooms, package tours, souvenirs or food. But we
\nhave to reposition ourselves in the market, with the currency
\nturmoil still hitting Asia.\" she said.<\/p>\n
She said many airlines and tour operators from Asia and
\nAustralia had reduced their prices to attract more foreign
\ntourists to their countries.<\/p>\n
\"Some Southeast Asian nations cut their fares after the end of
\nthe forest fire haze crisis. An airline in Japan, for example,
\nhas introduced an air fare from Japan to Paris which is as cheap
\nas the rate between Japan and Bali,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Many hotels, tour and travel businesses in Malaysia and
\nSingapore have changed their prices according to the new exchange
\nrates against the U.S. dollar, Tuti added.<\/p>\n
The currency turmoil has caused a sharp drop in the value of
\nthe rupiah against the U.S. dollar since July.<\/p>\n
The rupiah plunged to 6,000 against the U.S. dollar in
\nyesterday's morning trading session before strengthening to 5,500
\nin the afternoon.<\/p>\n
It was 2,400 against the U.S. dollar in July.<\/p>\n
\"We have to be very cautious about this because many hotels
\nand other travel-related enterprises in Indonesia are enjoying
\ngood business as a result of the sharp depreciation of the rupiah
\nagainst the U.S. dollar,\" Tuti said.<\/p>\n
Several luxury hotels in Jakarta and Bali are offering big
\ndiscounts and special packages to woo guests in the dwindling
\nmarket.<\/p>\n
Several four- and five-star rated hotels in the capital and in
\nthe tourist island of Bali are offering discounts of more than 50
\npercent on their rooms.<\/p>\n
Some hotels set their room rates in rupiah. But most rates are
\nset in U.S. dollars which is still a burden for most domestic
\ntourists. (icn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/travel-industry-warned-of-rates-1447893297",
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