RI eyes $6.4b from tourism in 2008

Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government said it hopes to bring in US$ 6.4 billion in foreign exchange from an estimated seven million foreign tourists expected next year.

The government has set these targets for its 2008 visit Indonesia campaign.

"We haven't reached our target yet for the year 2007, but the number of foreign visitors arriving in the first 10 months of this year was up, compared to last year's figures," Thamrin Bhiwana Bachri, director general for marketing at the Culture and Tourism Ministry told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

"Arrivals were increasing at around 14.4 percent from January to October this year, compared to the same period in 2006."

Thamrin said ASEAN countries, especially Malaysia and Singapore, had been the focus for Indonesia's tourism sector over the last 10 to 15 years.

He said these two countries remained Indonesia's major markets.

"Their proximity, the high amount of flights available and the similar customs and food are the main factors that stimulate the interest of people from these countries to visit Indonesia," he said.

But the government needed to develop tourist attractions in regions by improving facilities and access, Thamrin said.

"We have many other interesting places and cultures other than Bali," he said.

"But those places don't have good infrastructure or facilities able to accommodate tourist needs, like convenient hotels and resorts, clean public toilets, well-managed airports or easy access to tourist attractions."

Bali remains a favorite tourist destination, with foreign arrivals up 40 percent this year.

The "Visit Indonesia Year 2008" campaign, which would be launched by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Jan. 1, is set to stage 100 international-scale events and cultural festivals.

It has been timed to coincide with the "World Culture Forum Asia & Pacific" in New Delhi in January 2008.

Legislator Ade Daud Nasution from Crescent Star Party (PBB) is the owner of several hotels in Bali and Riau Islands and said the government must continue developing the Riau archipelago.

He said this was vital in order to win the tourism competition against Singapore and Malaysia and to attract tourists from China, the Middle East and Japan.

"We have to develop an integrated tourist resort on Bintan, Galang and Batam islands, which are located in a strategic position on the Malacca Straits," he told the Post.

"The government could invite foreign investors to take part in the integrated tourist resort project if it can not do this alone," Ade said.

The government said recently Indonesia's economic growth in the coming years could depend on the tourism sector if the Bintan Bay Treasure integrated resort was realized.

The resort is projected to compete with Singapore and Malaysia.

Ade said Malaysia's Landmarks Bhd. had confirmed its readiness to take part in the project in Bintan and many local businessmen had also shown an interest.

Hasto Kristiyanto from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said the government would need to invest a serious sum if it wanted to make the Riau archipelago a viable tourist destination in Southeast Asia.

"Despite having a Muslim majority, Indonesia should not be a hypocrite," Hasto said.

"It should learn more from Malaysia and Singapore and see how they have developed their tourism industries," he said. (rff)