Teamwork vital to push tourism growth: Official
Teamwork vital to push tourism growth: Official
JAKARTA (JP): The city tourist agency on Tuesday called all
related sectors in the industry to join hands together to boost
the number of tourists coming to the capital.
"We must act. We can start by working together," head of the
agency, Tjetjep Suparman, said while attending a welcome greeting
campaign for tourists at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
According to Tjetjep, Jakarta would become one of the
country's most attractive destinations for tourists again, but
only with the joint effort of all businesses in the tourism and
related sectors.
"We have to improve our services in tourism because the city
has been plotted to become a service city," he said.
The city authorities, he said, had already started to
intensify the promotion of several new tourist sites in Jakarta,
such as the Pasar Baru shopping area in Central Jakarta, merely
to lure tourists.
The administration has also planned to promote and preserve
the business and residential area of old Jakarta in downtown Kota
in West Jakarta, and to develop Pulau Seribu (Thousand Islands
marine resort) in North Jakarta as tourist attractions.
Following unrest in the city last year, the number of foreign
tourists in the capital plunged to 682,747 from 1.4 million
recorded in 1997.
The Ministry of Tourism, Art and Culture, had earlier
estimated the number of foreign visitors to Jakarta this year
would not be much better than the 1998 figures. The ministry said
Jakarta would absorb between 600,000 and 700,000 foreign visitors
from the estimated 4.4 million foreign tourists coming to the
country this year.
The arrival of foreign tourists in Indonesia is expected to
reach its peak next month.
Tuesday's campaign, scheduled to last until Thursday, at the
Jakarta airport was organized by Quality Hotel Bandara, Jakarta
and Choice Hotels Indonesia, an international hotel chain.
No Malay
A group of three young men and four women attired in
traditional costumes attached a small black-and-white pin in the
form of a kuda lumping, a traditional bamboo-made horse used at
certain events, to every foreign-looking passenger, such as those
from Europe and Japan.
Those with Malay looks were ignored.
Karl Waelti, chief operating officer of the Washington D.C.-
based hotel chain, said the program was important as tourist
experiences in Indonesia started and ended at the airport.
"A friendly and cordial reception of guests will give a good
impression to tourists about Indonesia," he said.
"The sense of hospitality will contribute to the tourism
industry." Karl added.
"I hope other hotel companies and tourism related industries
will follow such an activity to polish the image of Indonesia,"
Karl said.
Karl and Tjetjep also took part in Tuesday's activities.
Many of the tourists were pleased to receive such a warm
reception as well as the kuda lumping pins.
Several other passengers, particularly frequent flyers and
businesspeople, were startled by such an unexpected welcome.
Tjetjep welcomed the campaign, saying that it was a good idea
to help improve the city's services for the tourists.
"Hotels' active participation is greatly encouraged and should
be followed by other players in the tourism industry here," he
said.
Tjetjep also called for a series of similar activities to
welcome the year 2000.
"Let's not conduct the campaign at the airport only, but also
all around the city," Tjetjep appealed.
Arifin Hutabarat, an executive of PT Angkasa Pura, the
airport's operator, also hailed the campaign at the airport.
"The airport authority will support such activities," he said,
hoping that such event could be carried out every weekend, if
necessary, with more attractions.
The last greeting tourists at the international airport was
held in June in commemoration with the anniversary of Jakarta and
the country's Independence Day. (05)