Tourist sector sees signs of recovery

JAKARTA (JP): The new government is expected to rejuvenate the country's tourist industry after a number of years of downturn.

Abdurrahman Wahid and Megawati Soekarnoputri were elected last month as Indonesia's president and vice president, respectively, in the country's first democratic electoral process in decades.

The 59 year old Abdurrahman, popularly known as Gus Dur, is an internationally acclaimed moderate Muslim leader. The 52-year-old Megawati, who is also the daughter of Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, had been widely expected to secure the presidency following her PDI Perjuangan's victory in the general election.

This duet, widely expected to bring new life to the nation, has also conveyed new hopes for a revival of the country's deflated tourist industry.

The Indonesian tourist industry is expected to see signs of recovery this year following a major setback in recent years, with signs of recovery to be seen in most of the country's tourist-related sectors.

Yet, safety remains the main key in tourism. If the situation continues to be favorable, and with effective promotion, the government expects to see up to four million international visitors.

An executive of Banten West Java Tourism Development Corporation, Chris J. Gorrill, agreed that safety was a must in the tourist industry.

"Safety is urgent. This includes political and social stability," he said, adding that stability and security were the essential assets for good tourism.

"Now that the situation has become calm, with confidence and optimism, we're relaunching our product and service in a good time," he said.

Tourist-related businesspeople were depending on the capability of the new government to provide security, a conducive business environment and to deliver a better image.

Gorrill said that in addition to safety, anyone developing tourist services must also have a good concept and access.

"No one will come to a destination with poor concepts and access," he said.

Banten West Java Tourism Development Corporation is a private company holding a license to develop a 1,500-hectare Tanjung Lesung tourist resort. Tanjung Lesung is a natural peninsula bordering Sunda Strait. The area surrounding Tanjung Lesung is notable for such outstanding attractions as the legendary Krakatau volcano and Ujung Kulon National Park in Pandeglang.

Banten, approximately 85 km west of Jakarta, is predicted to become a thriving tourism region, just like the country's popular island of Bali, currently Indonesia's major tourist sphere. Only three hours by car from Jakarta, the Banten region offers idyllic beaches ideal for swimming, snorkeling, fishing, water-skiing and sailing.

"Tanjung Lesung is rather special. It is located on a tip, and it's the only one in the Banten area. So it's difficult to copy," Gorrill said.

The company is developing the Tanjung Lesung Resort Hotel and Kalicaa Private Estate. The four-star Tanjung Lesung Resort Hotel, which is operated by Accor, is also equipped with a Spa run by Martha Tilaar.

Gorill said that his company was about to launch ocean-view villas, available for private ownership.

"Our target market is the people looking for investment and lifestyle. Potential buyers are 95 percent local, particularly Jakartans looking for second homes after retirement or semiretirement."

He said that expatriates living in Indonesia were also encouraged to purchase.

The new government could set new regulations on land title to encourage more property purchasing by expatriates, particularly for the sake of the tourist industry, he said.

Foreign tourist arrivals in Indonesia totaled 3.5 million last year, a 30 percent drop compared to 5 million in 1997.

The drop in arrivals was attributed to reports of widespread riots in the country, which peaked in May 1998, when hundreds of shopping centers, banks and other properties were burned in mass riots. The riots, which left hundreds of people dead, forced former president Soeharto to resign after 32 years in power.

Political tensions in the country's major cities following the May riots also discouraged foreign tourists from visiting Indonesia.

In 1997, the number of foreign tourist arrivals was 5.04 million, below the targeted 5.3 million. At that time, Indonesia saw the lowest growth in foreign tourist arrivals in a decade.

The currency turmoil, which has hit several Asian countries, is also believed to be one of the influential factor behind the fall in foreign tourist arrivals.

Many overseas tourists have also been turned off by haze blanketing most parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan. A significant drop in arrivals also happened in 1995, when unfounded reports about cholera in Bali spread to Japan and other countries.

The government has predicted that foreign tourist arrivals would return to the precrisis level of over five million visitors by 2003. (icn)