Trouble-free campaign to help tourist sector<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The smooth process of the 16-day election
\ncampaign is expected to help ease foreign visitors' concerns over
\nIndonesia's political and security situation, a senior tourism
\nofficial said here on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Director General of Tourism I Gede Ardika said he hoped the
\nimproved situation would prop up the country's ailing tourism.<\/p>\n
He said the nation has successfully proven its ability to
\ncarry out the campaign activities without any major incidents and
\nthe better outlook of the country's political and security
\nsituation would be able to mend the country's international
\nimage.<\/p>\n
"The relatively smooth election campaign, which ends today,
\nshows that Indonesia is not something to fear and it also could
\nserve as a turning point for the country's ailing tourism," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Ardhika acknowledged that many foreigners and even local
\nresidents feared that the election campaigns would spark further
\nunrest in the country, which have been marred with sporadic
\nracial and religious conflicts.<\/p>\n
As many as 48 political parties joined the nation-wide
\ncampaign prior to the June 7 general election, the fairest
\nelections in 44 years. Previously, people were able to guess who
\nwould come out the winner.<\/p>\n
Ardhika said the concerns over the situation in Indonesia
\nwhich prompted several countries to issue travel advisories and
\neven travel bans for their residents, had further deteriorated
\nthe country's ailing tourism sector.<\/p>\n
"If we can maintain this relative peace and order until after
\nthe June 7 election, foreigners will regain their trust in us,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He called on local tourism-related industries to take
\nadvantage of the improved situation to help speed up the recovery
\nprocess of the tourism sector.<\/p>\n
Companies would benefit from the situation by making more
\ncontact with their foreign partners and informing them of the new
\noutlook in the country's tourism climate.<\/p>\n
Ardhika said that the government had established bilateral
\ncooperation in promoting tourism-related businesses with several
\ncountries such as China, Kyrghystan, Malaysia, Egypt, Singapore,
\nAustralia, Argentine, Sudan and Syria.<\/p>\n
"But private companies acted so slow in following up the
\ngovernment's move and as a result, the official arrangements were
\noften ineffective," he said.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Inbound Tour Operators Club, Arievaldy
\nKumarga, said many local companies involved in travel and tourism
\nwere not aware of the opportunities. Only a few utilized the
\ngovernmental agreements and established significant cooperation
\nwith their counterparts overseas, he said.<\/p>\n
"Many do not know that Indonesia has certain agreements with
\ncertain countries. I guess what is lacking here is channeling of
\ninformation from the government to the private sector," he said.
\n(cst)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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