Govt asked to give city more tourism autonomy

Govt asked to give city more tourism autonomy

JAKARTA (JP): A councilor urged the government yesterday to
give more autonomy to the municipality in managing its tourism
sector, including in the issuance of star hotel permits.

Imam Sutikno of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) said at
the City Council's plenary session that he made the appeal
because the municipality's authority in the tourism sector was at
present very limited.

"The issuance of permits for star hotels, for example, is
still under government authority, while the administration only
has the authority to issue permits for small-scale hotels," Imam
said in a meeting to pass a bill on the city's tourism sector.

The bill was to replace the old city regulation No. 3/1993 on
tourism.

Imam said the municipality also did not have the authority to
issue permits for travel bureaus or airline agencies.

"Limited authority of accommodations, travel bureaus and
airline agencies hampers our efforts to further develop the
city's tourism sector," Imam said.

For instance, he said, the municipality could not offer
attractive tourism packages to prospective tourists.

"Currently, the municipality is very active in promoting
tourism here, but without attractive (tourism) packages, it would
be difficult to promote (the city)," Imam said.

He urged officials to further find a breakthrough in improving
the tourism sector.

Deputy Governor of Economic and Development Affairs Tb.M. Rais
supported Imam's remarks.

"In my opinion, Jakarta has already had the ability to manage
its tourism sector, including the issuance of star hotel
permits," said Rais, who attended the session on behalf of
Governor Surjadi Soedirdja.

The municipality and the government, he said, could discuss
the division of their shares, including fees, after transferring
autonomy.

The transfer of autonomy, he said, could be conducted in
stages. "We have to consider some factors, including human
resources," Rais said.

Data from the Central Statistics Bureau shows that the number
of foreign tourists entering Jakarta tends to increase every
year.

In 1995, the number of foreign tourists substantially
increased from 1.3 million people to 1.67 million in 1996.

In the January-May period this year, 578,987 foreign tourists
entered through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tanjung
Priok seaport and Halim Perdanakusumah Airport.

The bureau's data showed that in 1996, 55 percent of foreign
tourists came to the city on vacation, 37.8 percent on business,
5 percent as convention participants and 0.3 percent in
educational programs.

Spending by foreign tourists increased from US$2.1 billion in
1995 to $3.02 billion in 1996.

Most foreign tourists stayed in the city for about a week and
spent about $240 per day in 1996.

The 1996 statistical data also showed that 31.7 percent of
tourist spending was on accommodations, 16.5 percent on souvenirs
and shopping, 15.6 percent on meals, 14.1 percent on
transportation, 10.1 percent on entertainment and 6.5 percent on
recreational activities.

In the 1994/1995 fiscal year, tourism sector contribution to
city income was Rp 212.6 billion and Rp 298.4 billion in 1996.
(ste)