Jakarta, May 17 (Antara) - The attack incidents by terrorists in Indonesia in recent days have yet to affect the tourism industry in the country.
According to Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, no foreign tourists has cancelled plan to visit Bali, the country's most popular tourist resort province.
A series of suicide bomb attacks on certain targets has taken place at three churches in Surabaya, on Sunday (May 13) followed by another suicide attack on the regional police headquarters in the East Java provincial capital on Monday.
The Surabaya suicide bombings left 22 people dead, including 10 terrorists. On Wednesday, May 16, another terrorist attack happened at Riau Police Headquarters. Four terrorists were shot dead, however.
Will these terror acts affect Indonesian tourism? Tourism analyst Chusmeru of Puwokerto's University of Jenderal Soedirman, said that the tourism sector is a service industry which is very sensitive to security disturbance.
"The tragedy of bomb terror, for example, could have an impact on the tourism sector in the country, given the service industry is sensitive to security issues," he said in Purwokerto on Wednesday.
In addition, a number of countries have issued travel advice for their citizens in connection to the suicide bomb attacks.
To continue attracting tourists, the government should immediately take a number of steps. It must show that the bomb terror in Indonesia has been overcome and the security conditions have returned to normal.
The government should also make security SOP for its tourist destinations so that tourists feel safe and comfortable. Travel agencies and other stakeholders, including community chiefs and religious leaders, should help explain that Indonesia is safe.
"In addition, the government should intensify the promotion of its tourism, particularly to countries that have issued travel advice, and deliver the message that Indonesia is safe and ready to receive the visit of tourists," he said adding that a strategic and tactical move to stop acts of terror in the country must be demonstrated.
Regarding the travel advice issued by 14 countries for their citizens to travel to Indonesia, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said that they not yet affected Indonesian tourism.
"The Ministry of Tourism is monitoring the situation continuously. We are grateful that there has been no cancellation of visits to Indonesia, especially Bali. Bali is a barometer, but we are obliged to announce such incident (suicide bombing)," Yahya stated at the presidential palace here on Wednesday.
The 14 countries that have issued travel advice are the United Kingdom, the United State of America, Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Poland, Ireland, Canada, France, the Philippines, Switzerland, and Brazil.
"We have to be honest in this matter. We must immediately make an announcement if the situations return to normal, similar to the time when we announced the Sarinah bombing. We announced the incident within four hours after the condition had recovered," Yahya added.
According to the minister, his side has checked the country's three main destinations, namely Bali, Jakarta, and Riau islands, and there have been no cancellations.
"I checked it this morning. I will check it again this afternoon. If they issue a travel warning (travel ban), it will have an impact; for example, the travel warning issued during the eruption of Mount Agung had led to the cancellation of a million scheduled visits. So travel warning is basically a ban to travel. The travel advice does not issue a ban a visit places," Yahya pointed out.
Yahya has stated earlier that he has sought to ensure the safety of tourists visiting Indonesia the suicide bombings in Surabaya. "We are trying to ensure security for tourists," Yahya stated in Jakarta on Monday night.
He also urged the Tourism Crisis Management (MKK) team to monitor the situation. "There is a crisis center, and we will monitor all the circumstances. We would assure the safety of tourists," he explained.
The minister expects countries issuing travel advice to Indonesia to immediately revoke the status if the situation has fully recovered. The tourism ministry continues to monitor and provide updated information related to the latest conditions, including air travel traffic, accommodation security, hotels, and others.
The tourism sector, such as hotels and tourist destinations, is increasing security. "The Indonesian Restaurant and Hotel Association (PHRI) has requested for an increase in security," Yahya stated at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs in Jakarta on Wednesday.
"Travel advisory is the obligation of the state to remind its citizens. It is not a notice to ban them. The advisory is addressed to the citizens of a country staying in a certain area," Yahya noted.***3***(A014/H-YH )(T.A014/A/A. Abdussalam/A/Yosep) 17-05-2018 00:17:3 |
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