Indonesia most potential in tourist industry: PATA
Indonesia most potential in tourist industry: PATA
JAKARTA (JP): The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) sees
Indonesia, with its diversified destinations, authentic cultures
and hospitality, as the country with the most potential in the
tourist industry in the region.
"Indonesia has the potential to develop a range of unique
tourism products, including eco-tourism, cultural, resort-based,
cruise travel tourism as well as conventions and meetings," PATA
President Lakshman Ratnapala told a seminar at the Tourism
Indonesia Mart `94 yesterday.
He said that Indonesia sits upon a natural eco-tourism
bonanza.
"If the country's tourism promotion mechanism can effectively
articulate the diversity of its land-forms, eco-tourism and
natural areas and restrict the uniqueness of its biological
endowments over its Southeast Asian and southern Pacific
neighbors, then the rice fields of Bali, the coral reefs of
Ambon, the orangutan of Bohorok and the Javanese rhino can all
realize their potential to enhance an appreciation of the natural
world and the beauty of Indonesia," he said.
He also said that in terms of cultural tourism, Indonesia has
been successful in promoting the unique cultural legacy of Bali.
The opportunities, however, are much more, he said, adding that
for the most part tourism development in places like Bali or
Toraja of southern Sulawesi has occurred with the approval of the
majority of the local communities.
Ratnapala said that what is even more important is that the
cultural aspects of the tourism products have retained their
authenticity and availability.
Quality
He also said that Indonesia should, however, improve standards
of quality in tourism products.
"Today's travelers are extremely discernible when it comes to
quality in the tourism products they purchase. Indonesia, thus,
needs to compete with other countries in the region," he said.
Adequate numbers of trained staff is the key to tapping the
potential markets and keeping the country competitive and in line
with the extraordinarily high service standards the region is
proud of, he added.
Tourist arrivals in Indonesia grew by some 11 percent last
year to reach 3.4 million, bringing in US$3.98 billion in foreign
exchange. The figures in 1992 stood at 3.06 million and $3.27
billion. In the first eight months of this year, some 2.16
million visitors arrived in the country, 17 percent higher than
the 1.83 million recorded in the same period of 1993. The country
expects to have 3.88 million to 3.95 million foreign tourists
this year with an average stay of 11 days.
According to Ratnapala, tourist arrivals in Indonesia over the
past five years shows an average annual growth rate of 21.2
percent, well above the average for the region.
He also said that the Rp 3.6 billion ($1.65 million) travel
mart, which is being held here from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3, is an
effective way to introduce the country's tourism industry.(icn)