PHRI to hold national convention tomorrow

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) will begin its 12th national convention in Jakarta tomorrow, chairman Pontjo Sutowo said yesterday.

President Soeharto will address the convention on July 25.

The government has declared that tourism, because of its labor intensive nature, will become the country's main foreign exchange earner starting in 1999, when the nation embarks on its 8th Five- Year Plan, he said.

The gathering, which will run until Aug. 2, will elect a new chairman as well as review various problems and challenges facing the industry.

A seminar will be held concurrently to discuss ways of improving the role of tourism in the next millennium.

Most of the activities will be held at the Jakarta Convention Center.

Pontjo, president of PT Indobuildco which owns the Jakarta Hilton Hotel and the Jakarta Convention Center, said one major problem facing the industry was the lack of a coherent policy between the various sectors involved.

It's as if each was going its own way, he said.

He said tourism could also act as a strategic agent of cultural transformation for the nation because of the mobility of people and their high interaction with other cultures.

The question then became one of finding a strategy that could develop and strengthen national cultures and identity, he said.

Pontjo also noted poor policy coordination between central and regional administrations. There was no common perception regarding the development of the industry, he said.

"This is one of the factors hampering investment and development in tourism in various regions," he said, noting in particular the multiple levies that investors have to pay.

"There are too many levies in the tourism business" he said.

Some 500 representatives of the hotel and restaurant industry are expected to participate in the convention.

When asked whether he would run for the chairmanship again, Pontjo said "maybe, if someone is willing to nominate me".

Other possible contenders already mentioned include media mogul Peter Gontha, who had been nominated by the Bali chapter, and timber tycoon Mohammad (Bob) Hassan. (08)