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.