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Tourism law accomplishes little

We don't see how the new tourism law which was passed by the House of Representatives last week will contribute to further developing Indonesia into a major destination for global tourists.

Simply speaking, the new legislation fails to provide new, strong building blocks for strengthening the main pillars of the travel and tourism industry -- the regulatory and physical infrastructure, hygiene and health and other support services.

The law does specifically stipulate the imperative need for strategic coordination of policies and activities among the various sectors related to travel and tourism such as customs, immigration, quarantine, security and order, physical infrastructure, health and promotional activities.

But it does not elaborate on how this policy coordination will be institutionalized and managed on a day-to-day basis, only saying that the coordination will be led by the President and the Vice President and the technical details will be formulated in a presidential decree.

This deficiency is quite damaging because lack of coordination either of policies or of activities in tourism-related sectors has become one of the biggest barriers to wooing foreign tourists to Indonesia.

The latest example is how the well-intentioned policy of certifying imported food and beverages -- which was designed to protect the interests of consumers -- became bogged down in bureaucratic inertia, causing supply disruption at the expense of foreign visitors and foreign residents.

The visa policy also often does not consider the target countries of our tourist promotional programs. The new law instead institutionalizes the coordination of tourism promotion activities through the establishment of a private-sector (independent) tourism promotion agency by tourism-related businesspeople which will be in charge of coordinating promotional programs within the country and overseas. The agency will be run by a governing board in charge of promotional policy making and a management board in charge of the daily execution of promotional activities.

Unfortunately, this new agency will have to raise by itself the bulk of its operating funds, a major deficiency that will forever bar it from developing into a powerful agency such as the Tourism Authority of Thailand or the Singapore Tourism Promotion Board.

The law also allows provincial and regency administrations to set up regional tourism promotion agencies. However, without clear-cut statutory mandates and funding, their effectiveness will be highly questionable. Moreover, the government seems unaware that promotion touches only the end of the long chain of activities required to produce the goods and services needed by tourists.

Of most importance is the quality of the end-product or the image of Indonesia as a tourist destination. But this quality or image is determined, not by promotional activities, but primarily and largely by how efficient, reliable and good are our regulatory and physical infrastructures (customs, visa, health, transportation, hotels and other support services). The legislation does not elaborate either on how the Culture and Tourism Ministry will be related to the national tourism promotion agency and regional tourism promotional agencies. Therefore, we don't expect much from the tourism law in the way of strengthening the regulatory and physical infrastructure of our tourism industry.

This is quite unfortunate because the volume of international tourism within the next two years is estimated to decrease due to the global economic downturn and the competition for tourist dollars will become much keener. Fast-growing, emerging economies such as Brazil, Russia, India, China, Mexico and South Korea have increasingly become major sources of newly affluent travelers. Last year, for example, the Russians made a total of 34.3 million trips abroad and the Chinese 47 million, according to the World Tourism and Travel Council.

We greatly doubt whether we have designed promotional programs specifically to woo tourists from these emerging economies. It is needless to re-emphasize the multiplier effect and labor-intensive nature of tourism-related businesses, in sectors such as hotels, restaurants, transportation and handicrafts -- the very kind of businesses needed to absorb the huge pool of job seekers.

Indonesia, though quite rich in culture, natural attractions and historical heritage, will thus remain among the least favorite destination areas in the ASEAN region. Tourist arrivals for the first ten months of this year totaled only 5.09 million, already larger than the 5.05 million in all of 2007, but still far below the target of 7 million set for this year. This figure is even more miserable compared to the average annual arrivals in Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia which exceed 12 million.

Source: The Jakarta Post

10 Top Tourist Attractions in Indonesia

Last updated on September 3, 2013 in South East Asia - 6 Comments

Indonesia is a huge country, in both population and land area, with significant cultural and geological diversity. With 18,110 islands, 6,000 of them inhabited, it is the largest archipelago in the world. The population of around 240 million people is derived from 300 ethnic groups who speak over 250 different languages. While Bali is usually the destination most familiar to foreign visitors, there is a wealth of other top tourist attractions in Indonesia to discover in this vast and varied country.

10Lake Toba

flickr/Max Grabert

Lake Toba on the island of Sumatra is an immense volcanic lake about 100 kilometers long and 30 kilometers wide. Formed by a gigantic volcanic eruption some 70,000 years ago, it is the largest resurgent caldera on Earth. Genetic estimates suggests that there were only a few thousand humans that survived the catastrophe. The island in the middle – Pulau Samosir – is the largest island within an island and contains two lakes. Besides visiting “a lake on an island within a lake on an island” tourist also come here to kick back and relax and swim in the volcanically warmed waters.

• Explore Lake Toba

9Tanjung Puting

flickr/Hulivili

The Tanjung Puting National Park is located on the island of Borneo in the Indonesian province of Central Kalimantan. The park is a popular ecotourism destination, with many local tour companies offering multi-day boat tours to view wildlife and visit the research centers. Wildlife include gibbons, macaques, clouded leopards, sun bears, pythons, crocodiles and – most famously – orangutans. Unfortunately the park is heavily threatened by illegal logging and forest clearing for agricultural uses.

• Explore Tanjung Puting

8Baliem Valley

flickr/710928003

The Baliem Valley in the highlands of Western New Guinea offers a glimpse into what was recently a stone-age world. The valley was not known to the outside world until 1938 when an aerial reconnaissance flight southwards from Hollandia (now Jayapura) discovered a large agricultural population. Wamena is the starting point for most visitors who come nowadays to marvel at the mountain views, roaring rivers, tribal villages and at the tough but sweet spirit of the warm Dani people.

• Explore Baliem Valley

7 Mount Bromo

flickr/Zimmelino

Gunung Bromo is an active volcano and part of the Tengger massif, in East Java. At 2,329 meters (7,641 feet) it is not the highest peak of the massif, but it is the most well known. The area is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Indonesia and Java. The top of the volcano has been blown off and the crater inside constantly belches white smoke. It is surrounded by the Sea of Sand of fine volcanic sand. The overall effect is unsettlingly unearthly.

• Explore Mount Bromo

6 Bunaken

flickr/Tom Weilenmann

Located at the north of the island of Sulawesi, Bunaken is one of Indonesia’s most famous dive and snorkeling areas. The island is part of the Bunaken Marine Park where you can see more than 70% of all fish species that live in the western Pacific ocean. The best time for diving in Bunaken is between the months of April and November.

• Explore Bunaken

5 Torajaland

flickr/gromanuk

Torajaland (Tana Toraja) is a highland region of South Sulawesi, home of the Toraja people. Torajans are famous for their massive peaked-roof houses known as tongkonan and spectacular but gruesome funeral rites. After a person’s death, the body is kept – often for several years – until the actual funeral ceremony which can last for several days. The deceased is then finally buried in a small cave or in a hollow tree.

• Explore Torajaland

4 Gili Islands

flickr/yeowatzup

Lombok’s most popular tourist destination, the Gili Islands are an archipelago of three small islands: Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air. The islands are very relaxed and laid-back, with countless little beachside cafes still playing reggae and no cars or motorbikes to disturb the peace. Note that the name “Gili Islands” is rather redundant as gili simply means “small island” in Sasak and there are many other islands around the coast of Lombok with Gili in their names.

• Explore Gili Islands

3 Komodo National Park

flickr/Jungle_Boy

The Komodo National Park is a national park located within the Lesser Sunda Islands that includes the three larger islands Komodo, Padar and Rincah, and 26 smaller ones. The park is named after the Komodo Dragon, the world’s largest living reptile that can reach 3 meters or more in length and weigh over 70kg. Although Komodo dragons eat mostly carcass of dead animals, they are formidable predators and will also hunt prey including birds, and mammals. Attacks against humans are very rare.

• Explore Komodo National Park

2 Borobudur

photo/Kenyon College

Located 40 km (25 miles) northwest of Yogyakarta on Java, the Borobudur is the one of the most famous Buddhist temple in the world. The Borobudur was built over a period of some 75 years in the 8th and 9th centuries by the kingdom of Sailendra, out of an estimated 2 million blocks of stone. It was abandoned in the 14th century for reasons that still remain a mystery and for centuries lay hidden in the jungle under layers of volcanic ash. Today it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Indonesia.

• Explore Borobudur

1 Bali

flickr/zsoolt

Bali is one of the world’s most popular island destinations and one which consistently wins travel awards. The varied landscape, rugged coastlines, tropical beaches, lush rice terraces and volcanic hillsides all provide a picturesque backdrop to its colorful, deeply spiritual and unique Hindu culture. The combination of friendly people, a magnificently visual culture infused with spirituality and spectacular beaches with great surfing and diving have made Bali the unrivaled number one tourist attraction in Indonesia.

[Courtesy of TourOpia]

Garuda, Yamanashi to boost RI-Japan tourism

Nurfika Osman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Headlines | Thu, October 17 2013, 10:24 AM

Mutual benefits: National flag carrier PT Garuda Indonesia’s services director, Faik Fahmi (left), exchanges documents with Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture Governor Shomei Yokouchi (right), as Japanese Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia Junji Shimada looks on following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU), to promote tourism in Indonesia and Japan, in Jakarta on Wednesday. (JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)

National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has teamed up with Yamanashi prefecture in the leisure and business travel market to help boost tourism and trade between Indonesia and Japan.

Garuda services director Faik Fahmi said on Wednesday that the full service airline planned to open a new route connecting Jakarta to Osaka next month as part of the collaboration.

“We plan to start the Jakarta–Osaka flight service on Nov. 8 [...] to boost tourism, business, education and culture between the two countries in the long run,” he said in Jakarta on the sidelines of the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Shomei Yokouchi, governor of Yamanashi Prefecture, home for Mount Fuji, the icon of the country.

“We are going to fly four times a week from Jakarta to Osaka, thereby increasing flight frequencies between Indonesia and Japan,” Faik added.

The airline will operate its new Airbus A330-300 wide-body plane with a capacity of 300 passengers for the route.

He said Garuda currently provided four daily flights from the capital city and Denpasar, Bali, to Tokyo, both to Narita and Haneda International Airports.

Japan was one of the most important international route markets for the airline because it had connected Indonesia and Japan since 1962 and the passenger load factor was healthy, he added.

He also said the airline had recruited more crew from Japan over the past few years and provided Japanese cuisine on their flights to improve service.

Yokouchi said the agreement would strengthen not only tourism and business between Indonesia and Japan but would also boost other sectors, including sports.

He said both parties had started their collaboration with the Peach Blossom and South Alps Cycling Tour and the Fuji 5th Lake and Fuji Highland Cycling Tour in April this year.

“We have also promoted the importance of halal [permissible by Islam] food to every hospitality player in Yamanashi so that they can provide halal food to Muslim travelers from Indonesia,” he said.

According to Yokouchi, the number of Indonesians who travel to Japan stood at 61,000 in 2012, with half of them traveling for leisure, 20 percent for business and the rest for study.

The figure was relatively small compared to around 150,000 and 120,000 Indonesian tourist arrivals in Taiwan and South Korea in the same year.

“We are hoping to bring in more travelers from Indonesia to Japan in the future through this collaboration,” Yokouchi went on.

Meanwhile, Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry data said that the number of Japanese tourists traveling to the Southeast Asian country had reached 50,898 during the period of January–August 2013, up by almost one-fifth from 42,565 people in the same period last year

.

Golf: Indonesia Open returns to Asian Tour after three years

Indonesia's national championship, which is returning to the Asian Tour after three years, is poised to play a major role in determining the winner of the prestigious Asian Tour Order of Merit as the Open will be held towards the tail end of the season.

Jakarta:  The Indonesia Open will offer a prize fund of $750,000 when the Asian Tour event is staged at the Pantai Indah Kapuk golf course from November 28 to December 1.

Indonesia's national championship, which is returning to the Asian Tour after three years, is poised to play a major role in determining the winner of the prestigious Asian Tour Order of Merit as the Open will be held towards the tail end of the season.

The challenging course has successfully hosted Asian Tour tournaments in the past and this month staged the World Junior Golf Championship.

The Persatuan Golf Indonesia (PGI), Asian Tour and IMPL signed a three-year agreement in December to hold the Indonesia Open from 2013.

The top stars of the Asian Tour will head full speed to the Indonesia Open which will receive World Golf Ranking points.

PGI chairman Arifin Panigoro said Thursday: "We are very excited that the 2013 Indonesia Open is shaping up into one of the best ever championships. We are confident our partnership with the Asian Tour and IMPL will provide the impetus to grow the Indonesia Open into one of the leading tournaments in Asia.

"We are delighted to announce the Pantai Indah Kapuk course will host this year's Indonesia Open with a prize fund of $750,000."

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Breaking Travel News interview: Indonesian tourism minister Mari Elka Pangestu

Breaking Travel News talks with Indonesian tourism minister Mari Elka Pangestu, as she shares her vision for ASEAN tourism in 2013.

Breaking Travel News: The ten destinations of ASEAN are very diverse. To what extent is that a help or a hindrance when promoting ASEAN as a destination?

Mari Elka Pangestu: I see the diversity of ASEAN destinations as a strength, not a weakness.

If you go to all ten destinations, you will find some similarities - i.e. warm engagement between tourists and local people.

The main problem in promoting ASEAN as a single tourist destination is connectivity and tourism infrastructure.

To attract more tourists to ASEAN, we should improve connectivity and accessibility by road, sea, air, and rail, within the region.

In my opinion, we should prioritise strengthening domestic, regional and international connectivity and developing tourist destinations through cooperation in infrastructure building, both soft and hard infrastructure.

In order to meet infrastructure needs, joint frameworks such as public-private partnerships should be welcomed.

BTN: In your view, what are the key sales and promotional points that ASEAN should be promoting to tourists in ASEAN and beyond?

MEP: The ASEAN region is rich in culture, heritage sites, diverse landscapes, natural beauty, and marine attractions.

All tourism products could be promoted to every segment of the international tourist market, because each product has its own uniqueness.

I think another important promotional point of ASEAN tourism is the warmth and hospitality of ASEAN people.

Everywhere you go in ASEAN, you will experience how cultures and traditions blend in with contemporary everyday life.

It’s a charming mixture of tradition and modernity.

BTN: What are the main challenges for the tourism sector in ASEAN ahead of AEC 2015?

MEP: Connectivity and infrastructure are the main challenges for ASEAN tourism.

That’s why ASEAN leaders have established the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2011-2015.

ASEAN member states have implemented the 2006 ASEAN Framework Agreement for Visa Exemption of ASEAN nationals to support ASEAN integration and connection as one community (reaffirmed by the ASEAN Leaders at the 19th ASEAN Summit).

In addition, Indonesia and other ASEAN governments also support the initiative to develop the ASEAN common visa (ASEAN single visa) for non-ASEAN nationals in the future.

We believe that this will support the promotion of ASEAN Tourism as a single tourism destination, as well as ASEAN’s greater integration and contribution to the global community.

BTN: How does the tourism industry in Indonesia feel about the advent of AEC 2015?

MEP: Most tourism industries in Indonesia are aware of AEC 2015, and they are encouraged by the government to participate in the development.

In AEC 2015, there will be free flow of goods, services, investment, capital, and skilled human resources.

BTN: What needs to be done to make the ASEAN tourism region more user-friendly for investors?

MEP: There are number of approaches which could be done by the ASEAN member states: providing tourism investment opportunities and incentives, and providing clear rules and regulations in each country.

To promote tourism investment, especially in infrastructure development, Indonesia has implemented three policies: 1) increasing the incentives given to tourism sector investment 2) simplifying the investment procedures in tourism sector, and 3) increasing investment promotions in the tourism sector.

We are also working on adding more Special Economic Zones in tourism.

We already have one SEZ in tourism in Tanjung Lesung, Banten.

Coming up soon will be Mandalika in West Sumbawa.

Having these Special Economic Zones, allows us to offer more fiscal incentives to foreign investment as well as more facilitation to investors.

BTN: Indonesia is making progress on attracting cruise operators. What needs to be done to get the cruise sector activated across ASEAN?

MEP: In order to get the cruise sector activated across ASEAN, we have a work plan that should be done by the ASEAN member states: developing cruise infrastructure; developing itineraries and routes; promoting ASEAN cruises at international trade and consumer fairs; and collaborating with international cruise organisations and associations.

To boost cruise tourism, Indonesia is in the process of completing five ports that can accommodate vessels with a size of 320 metres by the end of 2013 - Sabang, Belawan, Jakarta, Surabaya and Benoa.

An additional three ports which are able to accommodate cruise ships of very large capacity at anchor - Lombok, Tanah Ampo, and Komodo - will also be completed by 2014.

BTN: What message will Indonesia be taking to the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Vientiane in January 2013?

MEP: I believe that the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2013 in Laos will provide a great opportunity for all ASEAN member states to discuss ways to providing an increased number of visitors to the region with authentic and diverse products, enhanced connectivity, a safe and secure environment, and increased quality of services.

At the same time, this has to be done by ensuring an increasing quality of life and opportunities for residents through responsible and sustainable tourism development.

BTN: How desirable is an ASEAN common visa?

MEP: There is no doubt that the ASEAN common visa will increase the number of international tourist arrivals to the ASEAN region.

It will also accelerate the realization of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC), and ASEAN Political Security Community (APSC).

BTN: Can ASEAN promote niche activities, such as adventure, experiential, business and long stay—as well as mass tourism? How?

MEP: Yes of course we can. Market segmentation is based on experience and activities.

We can develop appropriate itineraries that meet with tourist needs or creative segmentation.

In Indonesia, we are now focusing on seven special interest tourism sectors: historical and cultural tourism; nature and ecotourism; culinary and shopping tourism; MICE; recreational sports tourism; cruise; and health and wellness tourism.

Our new tourism attractions are expected to draw not only a higher number of tourist arrivals but, more importantly, higher quality tourists.

We hope that foreign tourists will stay longer and spend more time in Indonesia.

[Source: BreakingTravelNews]

Indonesia demands Australian ambassador explain reports of spying from embassy in Jakarta

Date

November 1, 2013

• Comments 70

Michael Bachelard

Indonesia correspondent for Fairfax Media

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Indonesia's foreign ministry has called in Australia’s ambassador and issued a “strong demand” that he immediately explain the news that the Australian embassy in Jakarta was used as a post to spy on Indonesia.

If news that Australia conducts clandestine surveillance activities through its embassy in Jakarta is true, such activities are highly unacceptable 

In a statement issued late on Thursday, the foreign ministry “strongly demands clarification and an explanation” of the revelations published by Fairfax Media.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa has asked the Australian ambassador Greg Moriarty to immediately explain the news that the Australian embassy in Jakarta was used as a post to spy on Indonesia. Photo: Andrew Meares

But Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa will not take the meeting— he is in Perth attending a conference with his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop.

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A departmental spokesman said ambassador Greg Moriarty would meet a “senior official” instead.

Calling in an ambassador is a strong diplomatic step, and the revelations and swift response threaten to increase tensions in the relationship between the two countries at a time when Prime Minister Tony Abbott is seeking to hose down ill-feeling in Indonesia from his electioneering over asylum seekers.

Fairfax Media reported on Thursday that a document leaked by Edward Snowden showed Australian embassies were being secretly used to intercept phone calls and data across Asia as part of a US-led global spying network.

China has also reacted angrily to the claims, demanding an explanation from the US. 

"We demand that foreign entities and personnel in China strictly abide by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and other international treaties, and they must not, in any form, engage in activities that are incompatible with their position and status and that are harmful to China's national security and interest," Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for the ministry, said at a daily briefing for reporters.

Just 12 hours before the story was published, Australian immigration minister Scott Morrison was in Jakarta asking for Indonesia’s help to combat people smugglers.

The statement said Mr Moriarty, had been requested to come to the Foreign Affairs office on Friday to “provide an official explanation from the Australian Government”.

“The actions that were carried out, as they were reported, absolutely do not reflect the spirit of friendship that has been well maintained between neighbouring and friendly countries, and are a serious breach of security that is unacceptable to the Indonesian Government,” the statement says.

In the first version, the foreign ministry said: “If the story is confirmed, Indonesia will lodge a strong protest against the action.”

However, a “corrected” version was later issued without that sentence.

The response came after the Indonesian president's senior foreign affairs adviser also protested strongly, saying the use of an embassy for such purposes was “unacceptable”, a “serious security breach,” and carried the potential to “damage trust and confidence”.

Adviser Teuku Faizasyah said that, “illegal ways of collecting information, including through intercepting phone conversations, is against the very principle of good bilateral relations.

“If news that Australia conducts clandestine surveillance activities through its embassy in Jakarta is true, such activities are highly unacceptable. It is a serious security breach and is inconsistent with diplomatic norms and ethics … Spying on friends is unacceptable. Mutual trust is the very foundation of any good bilateral relations.”

A spokeswoman for Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs said it was the "prerogative of host governments to call in diplomatic representatives for discussions".

"Australia and Indonesia share a wide range of economic, political and security interests and we are close partners in the region and in global forums such as APEC, the G20 and the East Asia Summit," the spokeswoman said on Friday.

The latest revelations come after it was revealed German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other foreign leaders had their personal phones tapped byt eh US National Security Agency.

On Thursday night, Bob Carr said that while he was foreign minister it was a ''safe assumption'' to operate as though his phone calls were being monitored.

When asked by ABC's Lateline whether he operated under the assumption that his calls were being monitored while he was Australia's foreign minister, Mr Carr said it was a ''safe assumption''.

''In travelling in some parts of the world, one felt that advice more pressing than in other parts of the world,'' the recently retired NSW senator said.

With wires, Judith Ireland

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/indonesia-demands-australian-ambassador-explain-reports-of-spying-from-embassy-in-jakarta-20131101-2wmfe.html#ixzz2kooHehjc