S. Sulawesi now shifts priority to local tourists

S. Sulawesi now shifts priority to local tourists

Adianto P. Simamora and Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post,
Makassar, South Sulawesi

Local businesspeople and officials are all saying that South
Sulawesi is facing difficult times in terms of attracting foreign
tourists to the province.

Their reasons are all the same: the series of bombings across
the country has worsened the already faltering confidence of
tourists in the security of the country.

Worse still, the expected political uncertainty ahead of the
2004 general election will do further damage to an already
struggling tourist sector.

"This will be a difficult year for us to lure foreign
visitors. We are working hard just to avoid a further slump in
tourist arrivals to South Sulawesi," Syamsul Alam, chairman of
the South Sulawesi Tourism Agency, told The Jakarta Post.

"But whatever we do seems worthless as long as security
concerns continue to linger," he said.

Despite the situation, people in the tourist industry are not
giving up, said Syamsul. In a bid to help regain the confidence
of tourists, the agency -- in cooperation with people in the
industry -- have taken part in several international events to
promote the province as a tourist destination.

"We also invited dozens of travel writers from several
countries to look at the real condition in South Sulawesi last
year," Syamsul said.

The tourist, restaurant and hotel sectors are key to economic
growth in the province, ranking in importance only after the
agricultural sector. In 1999, for instance, those three sectors
accounted for 14.77 percent of regional gross domestic product.

Most foreign tourists in South Sulawesi eventually end up in
Toraja, meaning that this area has suffered the most as a result
of the slump in tourism.

According to data from the Tourism and Culture Agency of
Toraja, the number of foreign tourists visiting Toraja dropped to
1,408 in December from 2,788 in October. The number of domestic
tourists reached 2,865 in December, up from 2,382 in October.

The agency said the number of foreign tourists reached some
30,058 last year, down from 37,142 in 2001, Domestic tourist
numbers were 32,638 in 2002 from 34,218 in 2001.

The head of the provincial tourist agency, Syamsul, attributed
the drop in foreign tourist arrivals to the travel warnings
issued by several countries after the Bali bombings.

Bali is the main gateway for foreign tourists entering South
Sulawesi.

The Oct. 12 bombings in Bali left some 200 people dead and
came just as South Sulawesi was beginning to recover from the
impact of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

Hotel occupancy rates in Toraja now hover below 25 percent,
according to the Tourism and Culture Agency of Toraja.

A front desk officer at the three-star Toraja Misiliana Hotel
told the Post the number of guests had decreased sharply in
recent months.

"Business is slow these days. We only have six rooms filled
right now," he said. Misiliana has some 96 rooms.

Only 44 foreign tourists stayed at the Misiliana in December,
but that still came only behind the three-star Sahid Toraja Hotel
which had 46 foreign tourists for the month.

Currently, Toraja has 12 star-rated hotels with 680 total
rooms and some 98 non-star-rated hotels with 977 rooms.

Toraja is located about 320 kilometers from Makassar. It takes
eight to nine hours to reach the district by car. The Torajanese
are known for their unique culture, particularly their funeral
ceremonies and traditional houses.

With the slump in foreign tourist arrivals to Toraja, the
local tourist agency has begun to focus its attentions on local
tourists.

"That is our main program, introducing attractions and
providing special discounts to lure domestic tourists to offset
the slump in foreign tourists," said Lewaren Rantala'bi, chairman
of the Tourism and Culture Agency of Toraja.

When the Post visited his office in February, not a foreign
tourist was to be found.

"This is an unusual view in Toraja, even though it is not the
peak season for tourist arrivals. We used to receive at least two
foreign tourists a day here in my office," Lewaren said.

He said that since November there had only been some 10
foreign visitors to his office, mainly from France.

"It is now difficult to find tourists here," he said.

He predicted that the situation would continue over the next
few months.

"Even with the road shows we have done worldwide, if the
situation remains unchanged foreign tourists will remain
skeptical about visiting Toraja," he said.

Places of interests in S. Sulawesi

Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi

1. Fort Rotterdam: Locally known as Benteng Ujung Pandang, Fort
Rotterdam is a historical site showing the greatness of a South
Sulawesi kingdom. It was built in 1945.

2. Samalona island: It is the most popular place for swimming and
diving in the province.

3. Barombong: It is one of the most-visited beaches in Makassar,
with black sand.

Gowa regency

1. Balla Lompoa Museum: Located in one of the oldest palaces in
the Gowa kingdom. The museum was built in 1936. The museum houses
historical artifacts from the Gowa kingdom such as manuscripts,
musical instruments and traditional costumes.

2. Sultan Hasanuddin's grave.

3. Takapala waterfall: It is located amid paddy fields.

4. Malino forest: It produces fruit and vegetables for sale.

Maros Regency

1. Bantimurung waterfall: This spectacular waterfall is located
in a valley between steep limestone hills. Visitors can observe
various types of butterflies and birds here.

2. Dreaming cave: It is located about 15 meters above Bantimurung
waterfall. To reach the place, visitors have to go through a
small path from one waterfall to the other.

3. Leang leang Archeological Park.

Pangkep regency

1. Sumpang Bita prehistoric park: This is part of the Leang leang
chain of limestone hills and has number of caves. In the caves,
visitors can view a 500-year-old cave painting.

Enrekang regency

1. Mount Erotic or Buttu Kabobong.

Bulukumba regency

1. Bira beach: It is famous for its pristine white beaches.

2. Beru land: Local people build traditional ships here. Two
famous traditional ships, Pinisi Nusantara and Ammana Gappa, were
built in this place. Pinisi Nusantara sailed across the Pacific
Ocean, and Ammana Gappa sailed across the Indian Ocean to
Madagascar.

Wajo regency

1. Fishermen's village: There are about 30 houses on stilts here
occupied by local traditional fisherman. The village is located
in the middle of Lake Tempe.