Robberies mar tourism image

Robberies mar tourism image

From Warta Kota

The high frequency of robberies experienced by foreign residents in Jakarta will spoil the image of the city as a tourist destination. A Malaysian living in a leased house in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, was reportedly robbed of his car on Oct. 5. This is only one of many such cases.

The incident is counter productive to the plan to increase the number of foreign tourist arrivals. Such crimes perhaps will have a graver impact in comparison with the bombing of the JW Marriott Hotel, for instance.

Security is a very decisive factor in the effort to draw a lot more visitors. Tourists are least likely to go to places where security is lacking.

Meanwhile, tourists visiting the country have declined in numbers since 1997. Though there was some rise in 2002, this year the rate is predicted to decrease again due to bombings, which belong to the security factor.

In my view, security should be tightened in Jakarta, especially in foreigners' residential areas and in places frequented by foreign tourists, without any intention to discriminate against local citizens.

ADITYA PARAMITA
Jakarta