Indonesia: one of the world's most attractive destinations. In an attempt to increase the number of visitors, the 'Visit Indonesia Year 2008' program rolled out. Now, the year ends this month. How did it go?
The island of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara. Photo by Djuna Ivereigh
Indonesia, with its diverse locales, unique traditions and natural beauty, is one of the world's most attractive tourism destinations. Unfortunately, even with all its potential, Indonesia is only fourth in Southeast Asia's most often-visited tourist destinations. In an attempt to increase the number of visitors, the Indonesian government promoted Indonesia through the 'Visit Indonesia Year 2008' program.
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The most favorite tourist destination in Indonesia is Bali. Bali's uniqueness has become known even since the times of the Dutch. Bali's tourism kept developing rapidly until the bombing incident of 2002 caused tourist arrivals to decrease by 47 %. Another decrease occurred after the second incident in 2005. But Bali didn't require long to recover, as in 2007 the increase in tourist arrivals began and the tourism sector regained its normal pace.
In 2006, the provincial government of Bali announced that Bali was awarded the Best Island Destination by Travel+Leisure in New York. It was a polling that was conducted via 30 thousand respondents. To be noted, it wasn't the first time for Bali.
This was indeed a source of pride for Indonesia. Unfortunately, the condition affirmed Bali's place but left other neighbouring island destinations far behind.
The Indonesian government then took efforts to promote tourism in the archipelago in general so that not only Bali got the world's spotlight. By the end of 2007 the Cultural and Tourism Department launched 'Visit Year (VIY) 2008'. Besides the 'even distribution' of tourism, the program also intended to increase social welfare through the tourism sector. Back in 1991 the government launched a similar program but the result was only a small increase in tourist arrivals, around 400,000 from the previous year.
"We have prepared over 100 events all over Indonesia to get more (international) tourist arrivals," said Jero Wacik, the Cultural and Tourism Minister. The year 2008 was chosen because it coincided with the centennial of the so-called 'national awakening,' which also formed the motto of the program.
In the 6th United Nation World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) forum, Jero Wacik estimated that Indonesia's tourism had started to recover from the crisis. In 2004 the international tourist arrivals were 5.32 million, in 2005 it fell to 4.96 million (down 7%,) and in 2006 fell further to 4.87 million (down 2%) before rising to 5.5 million (up13%) in 2007.
In line with the 'Visit Indonesia Year 2008' program, the government optimistically targeted this year's tourist arrival levels to reach 7 million, with foreign exchange value of 6.7 billion US dollars, and in 2009 targets 8 million with a foreign exchange value of 8 billion US dollars.
As of September 2008, the Cultural & Tourism Ministry has recorded 4.5 million tourist arrivals. A third of that number is direct visits to Bali.
I Gede Pitana, the International Promotions Director of the Cultural and Tourism Ministry, stated that the number was relatively high and previously unattained.
From Indonesia's natural wealth point of view, the high arrivals count is as expected. Unfortunately, in the Southeast Asian region Indonesia only comes in fourth place in terms of arrivals. First place went to Singapore with 15 million yearly, second went to Malaysia with 10 million yearly, and third went to Thailand with 10 million.
It must be confessed that there is so much that Indonesia still needs to do. Besides a much more aggressive promotional effort, it needs much more tourism support, namely accommodations, restaurants, transportation, and infrastructure. By now, transport infrastructure in a number of tourism areas is still at a minimum and there is a shortage of professional guide services. In reality there are many potentially winning tourism destinations spread all over the archipelago that aren't even known most of the Indonesian society, due to the lack of promotional efforts.
According to Jero Wacik, only seven of the 33 provinces in Indonesia have self-supportingly and rigorously promoted their tourism, namely Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, Bali, and West Sumatra. The other areas still rely on the central government to promote their tourism.
Since 2007, the government has put up a 'stimulus' budget of Rp 25 billion to five provinces that are considered to be actively developing their tourism. As of this year, there have already been 10 that have received this monetary aid.
In 2008, the total tourism budget was Rp 1.08 trillion. Tourism promotional targets were focused at 12 main tourist markets, namely French, Dutch, British, German, Russian, Japanese, Singaporean, Australian, Korean, Malaysian, and Chinese.
The tourism industry brings a multidimensional effect that opens work fields, suppresses poverty, and becomes a local income source that supports the national economy. Its management needs the government's and private sectors integrative efforts.
This was proven not only by the dedication of the local governments to improve various tourism facilities, ease of immigration services and reliable transport, but also by the roles of the businesses that manage tourism areas and the marketing of unique local products.
"It is time for the local government to put sectoral egos aside and create breakthroughs to develop tourism. One is to develop in synergy close inter-local tourism infrastructures," said Irwan Prayitno, head of the Tenth Commission of the People's House of Representatives.
VIY 2008 is to end this month. But it doesn't mean that the various efforts in Indonesia's tourism follows suit. Gede Pitana once stated that besides the increase in tourist arrivals, another of the important effects of VIY is as stimulant for all areas in Indonesia. We may recall 'Visit Musi Year 2008'. In the beginning of 2009 'Visit Lampung Year 2010' will soon follow, together with 'Visit Babel Archie 2010' and 'Visit Manado 2010'.
Each area has carried out preparations to the maximum. It is a good sign for Indonesia's tourism. And each area has also prepared its own slogan. In one website that promotes Manado (www.visitmanado2010.com) still reads, "Coming Soon. Find The Great Place in Manado." Prepared? ■
Text by Ni Luh Dian Purniawati
Source : www.baliandbeyond.co.id
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