Government officials at all levels claim Indonesia's tourism is doing well, with each year seeing robust advancements. On the contrary, however, all the data indicates how dismally Indonesia's tourism has done this past decade. In the last 12 years to 2007, tourist numbers fluctuated between 4 million and 5 million visitors. The average length of stay has declined, from 10 days in 1997 to barely 8.5 days in 2008. Worst yet is how Indonesia compares with neighboring Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, which last year attracted 10 million, 15 million and 22 million visitors respectively.
How can such a huge discrepancy have occurred? How is it that Indonesia, brimming with such wealth in culture and natural beauty, attracts only a quarter of the tourists that basically barren Malaysia does? This tragedy seems to have its source in the early 1980s, when Indonesia, strapped for funds, pointed to the already world-famous Bali as its tourist cash cow. Since then little has changed. As a result, Indonesia's tourist attraction has been practically limited to Bali, with devastating consequences. (By Anak Agung Gde Agung, Jakarta)
Your comments:
All I can add is that the Tourism Ministry seems to be obsessed over the numbers of tourists arriving in Indonesia and not about whether their experience in Indonesia was positive or negative.
Bad word of mouth is helping to destroy Indonesian tourism Foreign tourists are treated as walking ATM's and are quickly frustrated by having to fight off seemingly endless hordes of people selling their souvenirs for highly inflated prices.
Gringo Reng
The United States
Indonesia should learn from its neighbors and revise its annoying visa regulations and skip the departure tax.
This would simplify short- and long-term stays in beautiful Indonesia.
E. Hartmann
Germany
I have been to Indonesia three times with a total length of stay of 13 weeks. The people are really very friendly. I have been to Toraja, all over Java, Bali and Maluku. Your country is so beautiful!
However, the big ferries are very dirty. Many tourists are afraid of terrorists and extremists. People remember the bombings in hotels and see sharia police in Aceh and air pollution in Jakarta is also not tourist friendly.
That's a pity because I just like the culture as it is in Indonesia. I think if Indonesia had no corruption and totally free education it could be one of the richest countries in Asia.
Marcel Hemmer
Netherlands
First of all, this fascination with international tourists should stop. Yes, the more the merrier, but domestic tourists are equally important and the government should also convince them to travel within the country before flying to Singapore for their next holiday.
With a burgeoning middle class, Indonesia's tourism industry has millions of potential clients, and no, Jero Wacik, it's not the job of an exit fee to keep local tourists in Indonesia, it's your job. Second of all, speaking of Jero Wacik, why is he still in his post?
It's obvious this guy has done nothing good for the tourism industry. Look at the failure of his much-hyped Visit Indonesia campaign, widely reported in the news. As previously commented, this country needs someone that can shake up the industry, who has the creativity and the intelligence. He has none of those qualities.
Last, I agree that the visa regulations should be revised. This is a big country. There's plenty to see, land borders are not easily available in an archipelago, so why make things difficult. I don't mind paying for a tourist visa, but give me options and the possibility of extending it without the big drama and hassle.
Peroblanco
Jakarta
My wife and I have visited Indonesia about 22 times over the past 20 years. We love Indonesia, I like batik, ikat, wayang kulit and kris.
The problem is the visas. We would like to visit Sulawesi, Sumatra and travel through Java and Sumba, Flores and Roti, but cannot do so in one month.
Also, the infrastructure is not there yet. If we visit Yogyakarta, Cirebon and Solo, then we only have maybe 10 days left for Bali.
We would love to visit Toraja and Sumba, but it is too hard and takes too long.
Bernard L
Australia
A serious problem about backpacking tourism in Indonesia is the visa regulations. The usual visa is only for 4 weeks. So you travel on a tight schedule which makes it quite impossible to go like areas like Sulawesi, Papua etc.
Johannes Schaefer
Germany
We have to tell the ignorant government, which only cares about their own politics.
Aprilia Rahman
Australia
I have lived in Indonesia for more than six years and have traveled to several of the major tourist destinations. It is a beautiful country and I would live here permanently if the immigration restrictions weren't so onerous. I agree with the comment about the visa issue.
Why does the government pursue policies that limit tourism? I guess I will never get an answer to that, and as each year goes by the tourist numbers will continue to decrease. I also think that the radical Muslim element in Indonesian society will continue to have an adverse impact on tourist arrivals.
Daryl Roe
Medan
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