M

akassar: The development of tourism in Indonesia is hindered by three problems, namely problems associated with hygiene, security and infrastructure despite the vast potential the country has to offer, a minister says.

Speaking at a national working conference of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Friday, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Mari Elka Pangestu said: “Security is improving, but hygiene and infrastructure still constitute big handicaps for tourism in Indonesia.”

Mari said that at a number of tourism facilities, including airports, railway stations, seaports, bus terminals, hotels and restaurants, hygiene had not been well-maintained, thereby affecting convenience for tourists and visitors. At present, Indonesia is in 125th position out of 139 countries surveyed in terms of hygiene. “We have to rectified this for ourselves — we will surely feel inconvenienced whenever we visit places without proper hygiene. So do tourists as they come here to enjoy beauty and relaxation,” she said.

Therefore, Mari invited PHRI and all stakeholders to jointly improve hygiene and beauty in public places, especially at tourist destinations.