Government can help out in developing tourism

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).