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)