Fuel shortage deters domestic tourists
Fuel shortage deters domestic tourists
Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta
Fuel scarcities and increasing street protests had discouraged
domestic tourists from visiting Yogyakarta over the past week, a
number of travel agents said on Friday. However, they added that
the fuel crisis had not affected the number of overseas tourists
visiting the city.
"In the past week, no domestic tourists booked our services to
travel to tourist attractions in Yogyakarta. In normal times, we
usually get between 10 and 15 domestic tourists every week," said
Alim, the manager of Annisa Tour and Transport.
Domestic tourists, mostly from other cities on Java island,
have apparently been discouraged by the fuel shortages and the
rising price of gas.
People have become reluctant to spend money on leisure
activities with the government set to raise the price of oil-
based fuels on Oct. 1, which will consequently reduce people's
purchasing power. Most people apparently know prefer to save
money to anticipate the rising prices of basic necessities
following the fuel price hikes, said Alim.
Domestic tourists had also been discouraged from visiting
Yogya as many travel agents had already raised the prices of
their packages ahead of the fuel price hikes, which are set for
Oct. 1, said Alim.
The chairman of the Yogyakarta branch of the Indonesian Hotel
and Restaurant Association (PHRI), Stev. B Indarto, confirmed
that the number of tourists visiting Yogya had declined in the
past week.
"I have heard some travel agents complain about a decrease in
domestic tourists but I haven't got the exact figures," said
Stev. Each year, up to 1.6 million domestic tourists visit Yogya.
However, he also said that the number of foreign tourists
visiting Yogya has held steady in the past week.
Marwoto, the manager of Kresna Tourist Service, which provides
packages to foreign tourists, said his company had not been
affected by the fuel crisis and was still serving at least seven
customers a week. Between Sept. 25 and Sept. 29, the Kresna
Tourist Service had arranged travel and accommodation for 33
foreign tourists, he said.