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2009 also to be Visit Indonesia Year
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 11/28/2008 10:49 AM | Business
If you didn't travel in Indonesia this year, don't worry -- 2009 will also be the year to visit, with the government planning to extend the "successful" Visit Indonesia program.
"At first many doubted the program's success, yet we have set a new record in our tourism history," Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said Wednesday.
That record is to have received 6.4 million foreign tourist arrivals, which is the country is on track to meet.
According to an official report from the Central Statistics Agency, there were 4.3 million foreign tourist arrivals in the first nine months of the year.
Although this number is more than 2 million short of the program's target, Jero said he was convinced the full-year target would be met, as the tourist arrivals usually increase in the last quarter of the year, to generate around US$6 billion in foreign exchange income.
Both the number of tourists and the amount of income generated would be record highs, leading the government to anoint the program an "unprecedented success".
It's worth noting, however, that these figures are based on revised targets set by the ministry less than a month ago.
The original target for the number of foreign tourists this year was 7 million and the targeted revenue $6.7 billion.
The ministry's general secretary Sapta Nurwanda said Friday that next year's target for arrivals would be increased to 7 million, although he said the office acknowledged the great challenge posed by the global financial turmoil.
"Next year there will be greater challenges in tourism stemming from the global economic downturn and the upcoming election," he said,
Indonesia will hold legislative elections in April and the presidential election in July.
He said the global crisis had already taken its toll on the tourism sector in the form of canceled trips, although he said the number had not reached a level that could jeopardize this year's revised target.
According to the World Tourism Organization, the growth in the number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia may decline next year to 6 percent, from an estimated 12 percent this year.
The Visit Indonesia Year concept was first introduced during the former president Soeharto era, and the first year was 1991. (dis)
What's On
- Indonesia Furniture Fair
11/14/2009 11/22/2009 Jakarta Convention Center - Indonesia Maternity & Baby Expo 2009
11/20/2009 11/22/2009 Jakarta Convention Center
- Festival of India
10/29/2009 12/15/2009 Balai Kartini & Umar Ismail Hall, Jakarta
- Imagemakers of the Future: Photography exhibition
10/10/2009 11/30/2009 Alila Ubud Desa Melinggih Kelod Payangan, Gianyar 80572, Bali - Timeless Change
11/05/2009 12/07/2009 Ganesha Gallery, Four Seasons Hotel Jimbaran, Bali. - Choreography of Colours; Sardono W. Kusumo's first solo painting exhibition
11/12/2009 12/12/2009 vivi yip art room Annexe Ciputra World Marketing Gallery Jalan Prof Satrio Kav 11, Casablanca
Jdddddddd (not verified) — Thu, 12/04/2008 - 9:17am
Why be negative? What do you think Global Investors do when the economy is heading towards a global recession? They liquidize their shares and go on long vacations. A global recession becomes a holiday and if Indonesia was smart enough they would be able to turn this recession into a tourism boost for the country. Lower airfares and Hotel accommodation, market tours and package deals (buy one get one) by bringing tourists into the country and may actually help Indonesia to increase foreign investment which is what will be needed in 2009 to stabilize the economy. With lower import duties and reduced taxes in the private sector Indonesia will become a haven for foreign investor’s thus increasing employment and a some level reducing poverty. The result is increased Investor confidence in the country. I recommend everyone works together here to make "Visit Indonesia 2009" a big success
David, Jakarta (not verified) — Thu, 12/04/2008 - 8:04am
It makes me sad to see opportunities to profit from tourism being squandered. There is so much potential for sustainable travel and tourism in Indonesia which could bring much-needed income to some of the poorest inhabitants of the archipelago.
I'm glad to see an increase in marketing but, as others have said, this will come to nought unless national and local government can take a long-term view and not be content with filling their pockets just for today.
Malaysia has a poor fraction of the resources for tourism as does Indonesia yet the country is earning more in tourism revenue this year. How can this be? It isn't just clever marketing, it means providing visitors with a welcoming environment where they have lots of opportunities to spend their money on quality products and services.
We make tourists pay to come in, they are extorted by everyone from airport officials to taxi drivers, and then they find that products they can buy anywhere else in SE Asia are overpriced and, in the case of spirits, virtually unobtainable. Add to that the images of convicted terrorists being treated like celebrities and the impunity with which groups like the FPI can act and it is no surprise that Visit Indonesia 2008 didn't work.
Wake up and smell the coffee!
Raja (not verified) — Wed, 12/03/2008 - 8:35pm
Along with your visa on arrival they can give all female tourist a complimentary jibab & confiscate all bikinis as contraband.
Alan (not verified) — Wed, 12/03/2008 - 9:24am
So is this confirmation that the government plans to throw out the Porn law, fix the ludicrous alcohol situation (and cut duty on it to bring it into line with successful tourist destinations like Malaysia and Singapore), allow imported foods, insist that police don't extort money from tourists, overhaul the VOA program which penalises people for wanting to spend money here, and bring the airports up to a vaguely modern standard. Because those are all reasons why people won't come here, beyond the terror threat.
It's not hard but nobody seems able to work it out. Indonesia could easily achieve 20 million tourists a year, adding huge amounts to the nation's coffers, if it was smart but it seems not.
Steve Canada (not verified) — Tue, 12/02/2008 - 11:21am
oh 2008 did not work lets try 2009... LOL, just proves that this Country lacks in many ways;( Too bad because Indonesia is a great place however allot of work needs to be done if they want to compete with Singapore or Malaysia. Terrorism does not help the situation also, allot of people are scared to travel in Indonesia.
Peter Link (not verified) — Sun, 11/30/2008 - 8:16am
Have a look at the new TV commercial advertising Jakarta as a tourism destination and you will see why tourism is dropping.