Govt clears way for tourists to drive cars here

Govt clears way for tourists to drive cars here

NUSA DUA, Bali (JP): Hoping to boost the arrival of visitors
from neighboring countries, the government has issued a new
ruling that allows foreign travelers to enter the country by
private vehicle, an official has said.

The director general of tourism at the Ministry of Tourism,
Arts and Culture, I Gde Ardhika, said on Saturday the regulation
was issued to boost the country's ailing tourist industry.

"As a way to extend the length of stay of visitors from our
neighboring countries and to introduce more tourist destinations,
they are allowed to drive their cars here," Ardhika announced
while attending the 50th anniversary celebration of flag carrier
Garuda Indonesia.

He said the new rule was aimed at encouraging tourists from
the bordering countries of Malaysia, as well as from Singapore
and Thailand, to drive their cars into Indonesia, instead of
having to come by airplane or ship.

"Our transportation systems are alike, travelers will only
need international driver's licenses, insurance and the required
immigration paperwork," he said.

Currently, only 5 percent of the total visitors to Indonesia
arrive through the Malaysia-Indonesia border in the western part
of Borneo island, Ardhika said.

Some 70 percent of the remaining visitors come to the country
by airplane, while 25 percent of them arrive by ship, boat or
ferry through sea borders, he said.

Visitors from Thailand and Singapore could drive to Sumatra
via the island of Batam by ferry.

In addition to this rule, the government will also allow
foreign senior citizens looking for retirement sites to live in
Indonesia for up to six years, Ardhika said.

They will be allowed to buy houses in the country and be
entitled to use public facilities provided for local citizens.

"This new policy is meant to enhance tourism, we want tourism
to be become a major foreign exchange earner and a labor-
intensive sector," he said.

The new policy is awaiting a decree to be issued by the
director general of immigration, he said.

Ardhika said about 6.6 million people worked in tourism in
1997, and the sector contributed 9.1 percent of Indonesia's Gross
Domestic Product.

The severe economic crisis hitting the region and social
unrest across the country has caused foreign tourist arrivals to
fall 20 percent to about 3.8 million visitors last year from 5.04
million in 1997, well below the government's target of 4.8
million.

Foreign exchange receipts from the tourist industry in 1997
were US$6.62 billion, about $1 billion below the original target.

According to government data, foreign exchange earnings during
the January to October period last year were only about $2.9
billion, a 19.5 percent drop from the same period last year.

This year the government expects tourist arrivals to reach
between 3.8 million and four million, depending on the outcome of
the country's turbulent political scene.

Many fear political tension in the run-up to June's general
election will spark more unrest and further harm the tourist
industry.

Ardhika said that as part of a travel promotion this year, the
tourist industry would launch at the end of this month an
integrated package for foreign visitors which gives incentives on
airlines, hotel and accommodation, travel agents, restaurants and
shopping venues.

He said the package would not likely copy last year's program
of Let's Go Indonesia marketing and public relations campaign,
during which tourism-related industries offered bargain packages.

"This is more of a long-term program," he said. (das)