C. Java gears up to boost tourism

SURAKARTA, C. Java (JP): Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave has called upon local businessmen to make the most of the business opportunities which will be generated by the opening of Surakarta as a new international gateway to Indonesia.

The local government and businessmen should work together to improve the area's tourist attractions and create new ones, as well as developing the supporting facilities needed to woo visitors, Joop said at the opening of Hotel Sahid Raya Solo here on Saturday.

"Developing good-quality hotels is one of the efforts to promote tourism. But tourists do not come for the hotels but to enjoy an area's specific attractions," he said.

The local administration and businessmen should therefore pool their resources in improving local cultural attractions, such as the Kasunanan and Mangkunegaran palaces, and in developing a wide variety of other cultural events to attract tourists.

He said Surakarta would soon be open for international flights from Singapore and its airport would be upgraded to be able to handle wide-bodied jets within two years.

Joop warmly welcomed the opening of Hotel Sahid Raya Solo, a four-star, 12-story hotel with 160 rooms, saying it would greatly support tourism promotion in the city and surrounding areas.

He also commended Sukamdani Sahid Gitosardjono for his success in developing what he called the largest private national hotel chain in the country.

"I think the Sahid Hotel group also deserves high appreciation for its contribution to the development of human resources for the tourist industry," Joop added.

The Sahid group also owns and manages one of the country's best tourism schools, a tour company and a hotel management and consultancy corporation.

Sukamdani said the Sahid Hotel chain now had 14 hotels with a total of 3,020 rooms, including one in Ujungpandang (S.Sulawesi) and another in Lombok, east of Bali, which are due to open later this year and early next year respectively.

He said the newly-inaugurated hotel was the refurbished version of the three-story Hotel Sahid Sala with which he began his hotel business 30 years ago. (vin)