Bali governor lashes tourism promotion “shopping trips”
DENPASAR – Bali’s tourism promotion effort has came in for sharp criticism from the island’s outspoken governor, Made Mangku Pastika.
Comparing Bali’s tourism promotional efforts to the workings of a badly organized three-ring circus, Pastika said Bali’s tourism marketing was ineffective and inefficient.
Bali Update (www.balidiscovery.com), quoted a local report that the governor had complained that the results achieved by tourism promotion compared poorly with the amount of money expended.
He said the billions of rupiahs spent to promote tourism were more decorative than meaningful, and focused on "playing" at tourism as opposed to "working" for the tourism industry.
“Those promoting tourism abroad must also be people who really work to promote tourism, and not be on an overseas shopping trip."
Pastika went on, "There are many cultural delegations sent abroad. When they arrive at their overseas destinations they typically perform before the Indonesian embassy. What use is that? It’s like a circus group without a clear mission."
The governor urged Bali’s tourism promotion team to spend the billions of rupiahs now dedicated to cultural missions to be diverted to international television promotion.
Pastika said, "Make quality tourism promotion films. After that, show them on CNN and other international television channels. That will be far more useful than stage performances presented abroad."
Ian Jarrett
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