Jakarta, Oct 20 (Antara) - Joko Widodo's government is expected to
strengthen the country's tourism sector and increase the current foreign
tourist arrivals of some 8-9 million a year to 20 million a year in the
next five years.
Tourism industry operators pin hopes on Joko Widodo, better known as
Jokowi, who was inaugurated as Indonesia's seventh president on Monday
(Oct. 20, 2014), as he is believed to have special interests in the
development of tourism.
"We hope that Pak (Mr) Jokowi will support tourism businesses and
involve tourism industry operators while drawing a development plan for
the sector," Edwin Ismedi Himna, the chairman of the Association of
Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) for Yogyakarta, said on
Sunday.
The tourism industry has extended full support for Jokowi who has set
the tourist arrivals target at 20 million in the coming five years.
"Tourism operators are optimistic that the country will meet Jokowi's
target for 20 million tourist arrivals," he noted, adding it could be
achieved on conditions that "the government should change its tourism
promotion model to a better one, increase its budget, and involve
tourism operators while adopting tourism development policies."
Besides that, the government should also improve supporting infrastructure for tourism.
"Indonesia's tourism sector still lacks supporting infrastructures. The
country has numerous attractive tourism spots and destinations, but
lacks supporting accessibility," Tourism Faculty lecturer I Putu Anom M
Par of the University of Udayana, Bali, observed on Sunday.
He pointed out that Indonesia had several tourism attractions in many
regions that can boast of natural and cultural enchantments, which are
also enriched by creative products made by the local people.
"Indonesia's
natural and cultural diversities are not inferior to those of other
ASEAN countries. Yet, only some eight million tourists visit Indonesia
per annum," stated Putu Anom, who is also a Tourism Promotion Board
(BPPD) member of Badung District, Bali tourist resort province.
According to him, to increase the number of foreign tourist arrivals,
the government should improve supporting infrastructures, including
adequate land, sea and air transportation facilities.
Moreover, cites outgoing Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari
Elka Pangestu, Indonesia has not optimally developed its tourism sector.
She stressed that commitment and good coordination among relevant
ministries are needed to optimally develop the tourism potential.
"We need serious efforts through high-level political commitment and
coordination, so that our tourism potential can be sustainably developed
for the welfare of the people," the minister added.
She pointed out that at the 8th Tourism Ministerial Meeting of the Asia
Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Macau last September, all APEC
members had identified tourism as the main pillar for economic
development.
Therefore, Mari Pangestu has asked the new tourism minister to continue
at least four main programs she had started for the development of
Indonesia's tourism sector for the middle term of 2015-19.
"It
is expected that in four years since 2015, the number of National
Strategic Tourism Zones (KSPN) will increase to 25, in addition to the
16 that are already developed. We hope they will be better planned and
coordinated," Mari Elka Pangestu stated on Monday, Oct. 6.
She also hoped her successor will continue promoting Indonesia's
tourism potentials in its primary international tourism markets
(Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and China) and in secondary ones
(Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan, the United States, the
United Kingdom, France).
Mari Pangestu also expected the next minister to continue promoting
Indonesia's tourism potential in its international tertiary markets
(India, the Netherlands, the Middle East, Germany, and Russia) and also
increase the quality and quantity of tourism visits.
No less important should be promoting our domestic tourism markets,
such as those in 16 provinces: West Java, Central Java, East Java,
Jakarta, Yoyakarta, North Sumatra, South Sulawesi, Bali, Banten,
Lampung, South Sumatra, West Sumatra, South Kalimantan, Riau, East Nusa
Tenggara and Aceh.
Mari Pangestu observed that over the last two years, tourism industrial
growth was better than the national economic growth. Tourism sector
contributed 4 percent and 3.9 percent to the gross domestic product
(GDP) in 2012 and 2013, slightly below the targets of 4.15 percent and
4.2 percent. Yet, the tourism growth exceeded its contribution target to
the creation of job opportunities.
Tourism growth in 2012 and 2013 created employment for 9.8 million and
10.2 million respectively, exceeding the 8 million and 8.4 million
targets. It absorbs 8.9 percent of the total workforce, thus
constituting the fourth largest sector in absorbing workers.
The minister added that the tourism sector also recorded a high
investment growth in 2012, reaching US$870 million, or an increase of
211 percent.
In the first semester of 2014, the investment in the tourism sector
reached US$256, or an increase of 115 percent from the same period in
2013.
Thus, according to tourism analyst Ani Wijayanti of the University of
Gajah Mada, Indonesia's tourism sector experienced an increased
performance over the last 10 years.
"The number of foreign tourist arrivals in the country in 2011 stood at
5.033 million only. It rose to 8.044 million in 2012. The foreign
exchange earned from the tourism sector increased from US$4.305 billion
in 2002 to US$9.120 billion in 2012.
"The tourism growth performance has significant impact on employment of
workers, as the tourism sector has multiplier effects," Ani noted.
However, she added, growth has not occurred evenly in the provincial
level tourism sector. Geographically, the country's tourism development
still concentrated on Java and Bali islands.
"Hence, planners at the provincial and central government levels are
expected to use the life cycle reality of each destination as the basis
for formulating their tourism destination development policies," Ani
remarked. ***2***
(A014/INE)
EDITED BY INE
(H-YH)
(T.SYS/A/BESSR/A/Yosep) 20-10-2014 17:05: |
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar