Local wrong perceptions hinder tourism development
Local wrong perceptions hinder tourism development
JAKARTA (JP): The unfavorable perception among local people of
the development of tourist facilities is hampering the promotion
of the tourism which has been fostered for 25 years.
"There are three basic unfavorable perceptions about the
development of the tourist industry in the country. Many people
still believe that tourism will have a negative impact on
Indonesia's social values, damage the environment and improve
only the welfare of businessmen," Director General of Tourism
Andi Mappi Sammeng said yesterday at the opening of a two-day
workshop on tourism at Hotel Wisata here.
He said the government introduced Tourism Law No. 9/1990 to
counter these negative views. The law specifically supports the
development of the tourist industry with the requirements that
the country's social values, traditions and other aspects of
public interest be considered and preserved.
"We also have State Policy Guidelines promoting the
development of the tourist industry," he said.
Andi pointed out that officials within the Ministry of
Tourism, Post and Telecommunications and other related offices
should be more serious about communicating the meaning of the
tourist industry to the country's development.
"We need many well qualified spokespersons throughout the
country," he said.
The workshop, attended by legislators from Commission V of the
House of Representatives as observers, is participated in by 70
officials from government institutions throughout the country.
Currently there are 500 clubs, which are called Sadar Wisata
and group about 26,000 personnel in Indonesia, assigned to
communicate the purpose of tourist development programs promoted
by the government.
Progress
Later yesterday, Andi said in a seminar here on challenges in
tourism that by the year of 2000 Indonesia is expected to have
achieved the highest tourist growth rate.
Andi said many countries have acknowledged that Indonesia's
tourist industry is growing rapidly and has a quite bright
future.
"In the Asia-Pacific region, Southeast Asia's tourist industry
is considered to have the fastest growth rate and Indonesia will
be a leading nation," he said.
In its November 1994 edition, Asia Week ranked Indonesia first
among Asian countries which gained the highest growth in revenues
from visiting foreign tourists in the last decade.
The Hong Kong-based magazine reported that Indonesia recorded
a 773 percent increase in tourist spending from US$288 million in
1981 to $2.51 billion in 1991, far above South Korea, which was
ranked second and recorded a 582 percent increase.
Last year, Indonesia earned some $4 billion from the visits of
more than four million tourists.
Andi said that in facing the growth, the country has to
enhance coordination among government institutions.
He explained that government institutions need to further
synchronize their work and prepare facilities to cope with the
growth.
He said Indonesia, which already operates 23 international
airports all over the country, for example, should also
immediately prepare quick procedures for immigration services.
"It's just an example. In the meantime, are we ready to
receive and serve visitors from Asian countries who do not speak
English?" he wondered.
Andi said that Indonesia's major potential markets include not
only English-speaking nations but also Japan, South Korea and
Taiwan. (icn)