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)