PATA membership needed

PATA membership needed

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant
Association's (PHRI) Bali chapter has asked the government to
maintain Indonesia's membership in the international tourism
organization Pacific-Asia Travel Association (PATA).

"Quitting from PATA will negatively affect Indonesia's tourism
sector. The sector is expected to help start the recovery of the
country's economy," PHRI Bali branch president I Gede Wiratha was
quoted by Antara as saying on Friday.

Gede, however, said that Bali would not be much affected by
the government-planned move, but he was concerned about other
provinces, such as Lampung and Irian Jaya, where tourism
industries are still at the development stage.

"If it is only because of the US$36,000 annual membership fee,
it is so ridiculous to quit the association. The government could
talk to the big players in the hotel industry in Jakarta or
Bali," he said.(udi)