Bakrie embarks on resort project in Lampung
JAKARTA (JP): The Bakrie Group will join with the government in developing a resort area geared to adventure tourism in Kalianda, Lampung.
They have established PT Krakatau Lampung Tourism Development Corporation (KLTDC) to develop the 340-hectare resort with an investment of US$50 million.
KLTDC, 90 percent owned by Bakrie and 10 percent by the Lampung administration, began construction of the project last Wednesday.
Company president Bambang Irawan said the resort area would be developed in two stages.
The initial phase would include the construction of infrastructure and tourist facilities on a 145-hectare plot.
The facilities are expected to begin operation by August to coincide with the Krakatau festival, he said.
The second phase would include golf courses, camping sites, resorts and international hotels on the remaining land area, he said. "KLTDC will sell a number of lots on the 195-hectare land to subdevelopers or other investors."
When completed in 1999, the marine resort will serve as an example of the government's efforts at encouraging private companies to invest in areas earmarked for development as tourist zones.
Lampung, the home province of the Bakrie family, will need a bigger airport if it expects to see more visitors. Currently, the Branti airport can only serve narrow-bodied aircraft. Land transportation across the province is time consuming.
Last year, 110,413 domestic tourists and 62,015 foreign tourists staying at start-rated hotels and other accommodation in Lampung. Domestic tourists stayed an average of 1.98 days in Lampung, while foreign tourists spent 2.9 days.
Indonesia had 5.03 million foreign tourist arrivals last year, up by 16.42 percent from 1995.
As if January, there were 123 hotels in Lampung with 2,604 rooms. These include six star-rated hotels with 457 rooms.
Indonesia plans to develop a number of tourist resorts in various areas across the archipelago following the success of the Nusa Dua Tourist Resort in Bali, which was developed by the state-owned tourism development company PT Bali Tourism Development Corporation (BTDC).
Concept
The concept of Nusa Dua was born out of the Bali Master Plan drawn up in 1971 and aimed at reinvigorating the country's economy. The government then assigned BTDC to develop and manage the 100-hectare resort.
Nusa Dua's dozens of luxury hotels and resorts are now popular for domestic and international visitors.
The development of Bali as a tourist center has been supported by necessary facilities, including the international airport.
The government plans to develop more than 15 tourist zones, including those Pangandaran in West Java and Baturaden in Central Java.
Investors continue to be wary of investing in designated areas because few tourists visit them due to poor transportation facilities, particularly airport.
International standard airports and direct international flights have proved to be the only way to attract tourists.
The government has failed in recent years to get private companies to invest in its tourism projects, including those located in Nias, North Sumatra, Gunuang Padang Ale Malih, West Sumatra, Belitung, South Sumatra, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Tanjung Bunga in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, and Marauw in Biak, Irian Jaya.
Several private firms are currently developing tourist resorts alone. PT Ranati, controlled by President Soeharto's youngest son Hutomo Mandala Putra, is developing the 1,070-hectare Belitung Indah Resort on the northeastern coast of Belitung Island. It is scheduled to be completed in 2005.
PT Banten West Java Tourism Development Corp, a consortium controlled by Sudwikatmono, a cousin of President Soeharto, is developing a 1,500-hectare tourist area in Tanjung Lesung near Banten, West Java. (icn)