Tourism is far too important for Indonesia to treat it with disrespect and indifference. If one breaks it down to the bare bones, tourism is a product, the tourist a customer. Marketing is not just about developing a promotional advertising campaign.

It is about developing a product based on consumer needs. In the case of Indonesia's tourist potential at the moment, discovering exactly what is the uniqueness available, packaging it well and with good taste and selling that (not some bizarre, fantasy vision) has to be the way forward.

In regard to Indonesia's uniqueness, it is also worth mentioning that it is definitely time to start getting serious about protecting its natural resources: The forests, wildlife and marine environments seem to be constantly under threat.

Your comments:

Jakarta is hopeless, especially in the eyes of European tourists. It serves only Indonesians outside Jakarta. Indonesia should map areas that are suitable for each tourist market.

Puncak, for instance, has its attractiveness for tourists from the Middle East, although rather controversially. While the government should take care of the basic issues in developing tourism infrastructure, let the strategies be done by local developers.

Djaka

The trouble is some people are taking "Sell Indonesian Uniqueness" too literally. Not only are foreign tourists being plied with illegal antiquities (items without an export permit) but now it has spread to the Internet (eBay) wholesale.

It should be "Market Indonesia's Uniqueness" with respect.

Artif

The writer is right in many respects, but there are a huge amount of travelers wanting to visit Indonesia. Jakarta offers more than KL, Bangkok and Singapore put together, but sadly, it is these cities that are laughing all the way to the bank, as they get the tourists.

Has anybody considered the Indonesian government may not actually want tourists in the country, other than Bali? I mean, Thailand alone gets 17 million visitors, and these figures don't just happen, it takes a lot of hard work and intelligent thinking.

Tourism is more than just money, it creates empathy and understanding between the visitors and countries they visit. People traveling to Thailand are not just tourists, many own businesses back home or run companies, so Indonesia doesn't just lose tourism income, it loses in many other ways.

Indonesia's maritime tourism sector should be massive, even in these economic times. The old town of Jakarta should be pumping with tourists. Lake Toba is dead, but it is a world-class destination. I could mention many other places, but I ask myself if anybody really cares, maybe the beauty of Indonesia and its people should be kept a secret, left to the few of us that visit and enjoy the country for what it is, a brilliant place.

Victor

Very well put. I couldn't agree more.

Dean Boulding

Sell Indonesia's uniqueness and protect the environment now!

RT

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