C. Java gears up to boost tourism
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)