U.S. company pushing to expand Indonesian timeshare market

U.S. company pushing to expand Indonesian timeshare market

JAKARTA (JP): A United States-based vacation company is
encouraging Indonesian businessmen to form a timeshare sellers
organization.

Resort Condominiums International (RCI), a leading
international vacation exchange company invited tourist-related
companies in Indonesia yesterday to discuss the establishment of
a timeshare association to protect customers.

RCI's director of resort affiliations and services, Peter K.
H. Chua, said an association is necessary to win worldwide
recognition from developers, consumers and governments.

A timeshare is generally a condominium or apartment at a
resort area, which is jointly owned by a number of individuals or
groups, who divide up the time that is spent there.

The timeshare concept was first introduced in France in the
1960's to increase hotel occupancy rates.

RCI's Indonesian representative, Vitri S. Sukardi, said that
her company has seven domestic hotel affiliates and almost 1,000
members.

She said RCI has cooperated with 2,631 resorts in 37 countries
all over the world, of which 1,200 are in the United States and
200 in the Asia-Pacific region.

Chua said his company has successfully sponsored the
establishment of timeshare associations in Singapore, Malaysia
and Thailand.

"We would inform the Ministry of Tourism, Post and
Telecommunications to get support for the establishment of an
association in Indonesia," he said, adding that his company will
hold a timeshare industry conference in Indonesia in July.

Haryogi Maulani, president of Balisani Group, which is
affiliated with RCI, said the planned association will likely be
established within three months. (icn)