Services and tourism

Services and tourism

I want to protest strongly at the various unsavory activities
that appear to occur on a regular basis in and around the bus
station at Probolinggo, East Java. And no doubt I am not the
first to complain.

I and two friends departed Padangbai, Bali by Baruna Bus
Service, to Probolinggo in order to visit Mount Bromo and the
surrounding area. We were aware that the bus would arrive at
approximately 02.30, and from our guidebook knew we would find
some clean but modest place to stay before continuing to Mount
Bromo the next morning.

Arriving in Probolinggo, the bus deposited us (the only ones
to leave) outside a small office with a "Tourist Information"
sign outside and three or four men hanging around outside, also
being shown into the office. We were informed there was no
transport available except a private car to take us to the top of
Mount Bromo, at an extortionate price of Rp 10,000 per person,
also all the hotels and guest houses were closed and a long way
from where we were.

But by chance, there was a small losmen nearby where they had
rooms available. We went and looked at the rooms available and
decided we had to accept them, as our only alternative appeared
to be to sleep in the street. By this time we were feeling very
intimidated by the presence of by now larger group of men. The
losmen turned out to be rooms in a family's house, which were
filthy and had extremely poor security. The young boy who took
our money for the room even offered his own "services" as we were
trying to go to bed.

The next morning, again at this "Information Office", we were
subjected to more harassment and intimidation as we attempted to
arrange transport by bemo (three-wheeled, motorized, public
vehicle) up the mountain, with one man wanting us to pay him
instead of the bemo driver for our journey. And also sitting in
the bemo to the Cemara Indah Hotel in the hope of acquiring some
commission from the hotel we had decided to stay at.

Our stay at Mount Bromo was very enjoyable and only marred by
the exorbitant prices charged by the hotel for our onward bus
ticket to Solo. On departure from Probolinggo Bus Station we were
again subjected to intense harassment and dare I say animosity by
various people who all appeared to demand money for "invisible"
services.

These incidents have marred our otherwise very pleasant stay
in East Java. My friends and I are all very experienced
travelers. I myself have traveled for more than one year in Asia
and have spent three months now in Indonesia and I also work in
the tourism industry in the United Kingdom.

I would be grateful if you could answer my letter and reply to
the following points.

* Why are bus companies dropping off passengers at the
unofficial tourist office when the official tourist office is
only 100 meters down the road? I can only wonder if there is a
financial arrangement involved.

* Why are official guides allowed to operate in this way with
intense harassment? As a tour guide in the United Kingdom, I have
a code of practice that I must abide by as I am providing a
service to other people visiting my home country and I would
expect the same service to be offered to me.

* Why does the official tourist office fail to provide an
efficient service in Probolinggo. In the decade of tourism in
Indonesia, it is sadly lacking.

The above problems appear to be on going ones as we have
spoken to many other travelers who have experienced the same
treatment. It will get to the point where guide books will not
recommend a stop in this particular area and have a disastrous
effect on the local economy.

MS T. J. DALEY

Yorkshire, UK