Government must change tourism policy

Government must change tourism policy

Tourism is vital for generating foreign exchange revenues, but
facts show that the industry is in turmoil. While earnest work to
lure tourists back remains unfruitful, fresh violence hit the
capital city of Jakarta on Friday. How can we paint a better
picture to attract visitors? The Jakarta Post's Rita A. Widiadana
attempts to find some answers.

JAKARTA (JP): The natural beauty of the sea, sand or sun can
no longer tempt tourists to the paradise island of Bali or
neighboring Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara.

Neither cultural attractions nor impeccable works or art and
handicrafts can entice foreigners to visit Indonesia.

Indonesia's top tourist destinations, from the famous Lake
Toba in North Sumatra and the tourist favorite of Kuta beach in
Bali, to the Bunaken diving area in North Sulawesi and natural
Banda island in Maluku, are bereft of visitors.

Each passing month sees thousands of foreigners canceling
trips to Indonesia, jittered by fresh scenes of riots in Aceh,
Maluku province and the capital city of Jakarta. Large blankets
of haze in Sumatra and Kalimantan as well as the tropical
diseases of cholera and malaria also discourage visitors from
developed countries.

The number of tourists visiting Bali in the first quarter of
2000 dropped 12.7 percent from 112,768 in l999 to 98,496.

In Jakarta, the high crime rate, frequent student brawls and
riots are the main reasons for the decrease in the number of
tourist arrivals.

The City Tourism Agency recorded 1,057,104 tourists visiting
Jakarta in l998, but this number dropped to 981,183 last year.

Indonesia's key tourist industry has been feeling the backlash
of its tarnished images in the international community.

Tourism is vital to Indonesia. It absorbs more than two
million from the workforce and generates billions of American
dollars in revenue for the state.

Chairwoman of Indonesia's chapter of the Pacific Asia Travel
Association (PATA) Elly Hutabarat comments, "Indonesia is not
very 'in' at the moment."

The current social, economic and political conditions have hit
Indonesia's tourism industry hard since l997 when the economic
crisis began and the industry further worsened with haze and
drought problems, she said.

"There are so many valuable lessons we can draw from this
particular situation," added Elly.

The enduring images of Indonesia as a country rich in nature
and culture are no longer vendible.

"Tourists need security and good tourist facilities, including
a high standard of health care and a pleasant and healthy
environment, while visiting Indonesia, something we can't offer
them at present," she added.

In a seminar on Healthy and Secure Tourism held on Tuesday at
Atmajaya University's School of Medicine, Dr. Charles Suryadi,
professor of public health at the university, agreed that
Indonesia's tourism policy barely touched on the basic
requirements of the industry.

Tourists visiting Indonesia often experience disturbing
disappointments, starting from the streamlining of the
bureaucratic process at local airports, inadequate transport and
international standard accommodations, to the lack of health
facilities.

All tourism drives and campaigns were rhetoric and
superficial. The government and tourism boards are promoting
Indonesia outside but in the country barely does anything to
improve necessary tourism facilities, said Charles.

Roads are potholed, trains and buses are in dilapidated
conditions, not to mention their reckless drivers. Tourist
Information Centers are often empty.

Health care

In health sector, for instance, only big hospitals in Jakarta
and Bali are able to cater foreign visitors who become ill, he
said.

"If they are sick or have an accident during their visit to
Indonesia, we can't treat them properly unless we have good
quality health care services, which are still rare in the
country."

Dr. Kisjanto, professor of cardiology at Cipto Mangukusumo
General Hospital (RSCM) and chairman of the Indonesian Travel
Medicine Society, said that many tourists suffer from minor to
serious injuries or sickness during their holidays in Indonesia.

Numerous visitors, the elderly in particular, suffer from
heart-related diseases, respiratory problems, stomachs upsets,
traffic accidents, malaria and diarrhea. Drowning is also another
serious problem.

"We promote Indonesia's beaches and marine resources but we
don't have enough trained lifeguards. This is a simple and
pathetic example," the professor said.

In remote forested areas, where the government promotes
ecotourism, the nearest public health center is a four-hour walk
away.

"Some of the existing health centers are not even equipped
with first aid kits to treat wounded visitors," he explained.

Dr. Richard Tomlins from the Australian Embassy Clinic in
Jakarta, said that in l999, about 280,000 Australians traveled to
Indonesia.

He said that for every 100,000 people traveling to a
developing area, including Indonesia, and staying for one month,
50,000 would have health problems, 8,000 would consult a doctor,
5,000 would need to stay in bed sick while on holiday, 400 would
be hospitalized, 50 would require air evacuation and one would
die.

This represents a large demand for medical resources,
especially in Bali, the most favorite destination among
Australians, said Tomlins.

"Australian travelers are very demanding," he said.

Dr. Kisjanto added that in order to lure back foreigners,
Indonesia should provide better health care and supporting
infrastructure facilities for visitors. "But, we have to be
mindful, visitors may also bring in various diseases, from
influenza to the dangerous HIV virus," the doctor said.

He said that the government must dramatically change the
current "top-down" tourism policy.

"The government should involve not only tourist-related
industries but also medical people, public works, immigration
and, more importantly, the public to prepare a comprehensive
policy," he said.

Deputy Minister for Tourism Product Development I Gede Ardhika
admitted that in the past, the policy was too bureaucratic and
economic oriented.

Good program

"We are now launching community-based tourism forums to absorb
ideas from community members and officials on how to create good
tourism programs in eight tourist spots, including in Lake Toba,
Bali, Bunaken and Lombok," he said.

At each of the designated areas, the forum will monitor
tourism facilities and programs. "They will provide input to the
hotel and restaurant sector, travel agents, hospitals and other
related institutions about how to provide better services for
visitors."

Despite the downturn and ongoing crisis, he was optimistic
that Indonesia could still be considered a potential tourist
destination in Southeast Asia.

He expects 5 percent growth in visitor arrivals this year,
from 4.8 million in l999. "We predict the number will reach 5.1
million this year," Ardhika said.

Charles said that any efforts to attract foreign tourists to
Jakarta would be futile without a solution to the country's
multidimensional crisis.

"We can not work alone to improve the decaying image of
Indonesia abroad. Politicians, the Army, the students and all
Indonesians are responsible for bringing peace and security back
to the country," said Charles.

Only when Indonesia is secure will visitors return and, more
importantly, bring hard currency to this debt-laden country.