Government can help out in developing tourism

SURABAYA (JP): Support from the local government is the key to successful tourism in East Java. In 2000 and beyond, tourist industries, including travel agencies, airlines and hotels, will find difficulties in increasing their targeted market, and even harder to survive, without government support.

The East Java chairman of the Association of Indonesian Travel Agencies (ASITA), Sutawi, emphasized the urgency of the situation during an interview recently with The Jakarta Post. He hoped that program otonomi daerah (autonomy scheme for provinces) would put East Java on the map again.

Some years ago, East Java, sandwiched between Yogyakarta and Bali, was one of the country's tourism standouts. It was especially true when cruise ships were allowed to enter Tanjung Perak Port. With its vast area, East Java has a lot to offer, including Mount Bromo, with its "sunrise" attraction, the Malang and Pasuruan area for agribusiness, Madura, for its tradition of Kerapan Sapi (bull racing), and Surabaya, with its busy trading activities, industries and competitive shopping malls.

"At the moment, there are many tourists from Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam spending money in Surabaya shopping centers," said Sutawi.

He said people told him the quality of products in Surabaya shopping centers was as good as that in other ASEAN cities, such as Bangkok and Singapore, but the prices were lower.

He urged the government to give more attention to tourism. It is not only a matter of investment or regulations, but personal attention from government officials.

He praised the example of the regent of Pasuruan, a relatively small town in a regency of the same name about 60 kilometers from Surabaya.

Bustling with activity, Pasuruan has small industrial centers, handicraft workshops and mountain attractions, with Bromo being the highlight. The most important attraction right now is the Finna Golf and Country Club Resort.

"The regent invited travel operators from East Java, Bali and Jakarta, sponsoring us on a promotional tour visiting the attractions of Pasuruan, and ending in Finna Resort, where we could rest and enjoy the beautiful scenery and the luxury facilities," Sutawi said.

"All of it was paid for by the Pasuruan local government.

"I was impressed not because it was a free tour, but because of the attitude displayed.

"In my experience, the regent is the only, or the first, to have arranged such a program."

Tour operators from Bali and Jakarta were impressed, and they are actively marketing Pasuruan to their domestic and overseas tourists.

Sutawi said the program was more effective and efficient than sending a troupe of dancers and marketing agents armed with tourism brochures on a world tour.

Finna Golf and Country Club Resort's marketing manager Dwi W. Ardiyanti gave two thumbs up when asked about the support of the local government for marketing of tourism.

"He is very active with tourist programs. It is good for us.

"He recently held a golf tournament called the Bupati Cup (Regent's Cup), which was attended by golfers from many areas in East Java," said Ardiyanti.

Unfortunately, not all government officials have a similar interest or concern for tourism. A manager of a golf club in Surabaya said that the East Java government was slow in anticipating economic growth, including an increase in world travelers putting East Java in their travel plans.

"They seem to be very careful. It is understandable, as they might still be traumatized by the monetary crisis," he said.

"Consequently, we are lagging behind."

Another golf club manager concurred. "We particularly lack promotion. It is always the airlines, hotels or travel agents doing the promotion. The government should be more active."

The growth of golf clubs and resorts in East Java, especially in the western part of Surabaya, is a result of a government policy of pushing for development of real estate complexes.

Several golf clubs in the city were developed on such estates, which are developed in areas that are declared to have low population density and adequate greenery. Real estate complexes in certain areas in Surabaya, particularly the west, must conform to the low-density requirement.

The ratio between housing and other buildings to green areas is 60:40.

For most developers, a golf course is the standard answer to the requirement.

A. Adelie, director of Grand Interwisata, which owns a golf club located in the western part of Surabaya, said: "I don't know why no developers think about parks, and that includes us. I really don't know."

In western Surabaya alone, there are at least three golf courses belonging to real estate developers -- Ciputra, Bukit Darmo and Dharmala (Graha Famili).

Sutawi said that nearly all sectors in East Java were ready for more tourists, especially travel agencies.

The main obstacle will be security concerns.

"Everything is ready in East Java and especially in Surabaya. But, unfortunately, in Surabaya particularly, the crime rate has become our major obstacle."

Sutawi said maintaining security must be considered a priority by the local government.

ASITA's East Java branch comprises 77 travel bureaus, 23 travel agencies, 23 branches of national and international travel bureaus and four other tourism-related institutions (Sirikit Syah).