More efficient tourism sought

More efficient tourism sought

JAKARTA (JP): Leading experts and a government official called on the domestic tourism industry to maximize efficiency because the country is required to fulfill its free-trade commitments in line with international agreements.

"Our tourism industry must increase its efficiency, maximize performance and improve its human resources or it will be swept away by trade liberalization," Marzuki Usman, an official who was a member of Indonesia's team of negotiations in the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade, said in a discussion on tourism yesterday.

According to the Marrakesh Treaty, which marked the completion of the Uruguay Round, Indonesia must gradually open its economy to foreign investments beginning this year. The process must be complete by 2006.

The tourism industry is a major foreign currency earner in Indonesia and plays a crucial role in the creation of employment opportunities.

Official data show that in 1993, the industry earned US$3.6 billion, fourth largest after oil and gas, textiles and timber. During the same year, the country received 3.4 million foreign tourists.

Despite the impressive economic growth and obvious cultural and geographical advantages, Indonesia's tourism industry still lags behind those of neighboring countries Singapore and Malaysia.

Hadi Soesastro, an economist based in the Center for Strategic and International Studies who chaired yesterday's discussion, said that Indonesia must be more aggressive in promoting its tourism facilities abroad.

"Everywhere in Europe, for example, we see the promotion offices of Singapore and Malaysia but not Indonesia," he said. (hdj)