Tourism minister’s performance under scrutiny
DENPASAR – Reports quoted by Bali Update (www.balidiscovery.com) indicate that the reappointment of Jero Wacik as Indonesia’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Minister has not won universal approval from the industry. Far from it.
A report in Bisnis.com quotes the vice-chairman of the Jakarta Chapter of the Association of Travel Agents (ASITA), Rudiana, saying, "The character and the programmes of the past are wrong in having favoured the development of Bali’s tourism.
“Tourism objects in other parts of the archipelago have not received the serious handling and attention they deserve."
Other elements of the tourism industry say Wacik failed to create a tourism promotion strategy and an integrated approach to tourism involving other relevant ministries of the government.
"To facilitate this, something resembling the Indonesian Tourism Promotion Board (BPPI) needs to be reformed and reinvigorated," said Herry Setiawan, director of Garuda Indonesia Holidays.
Separately, the former chairman of the BPPI, Wuryastuti Sunario, was quoted as suggesting Wacik is less than capable of fostering cooperation with the private sector and the press.
Wuryastuti said, "Cooperation with the private sector should not be equated with merely giving money in support of private sector initiatives. Don’t treat the private sector as a sub-contractor, but create a genuine partnership instead."
Bali Update also reports that Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked each of the ministers seated in his newly appointed cabinet to assist him in his second term by setting goals for their first 100 days in office.
Wacik has pledged to shorten the lines for tourists purchasing the visa-on-arrival at the nation’s airports.
Wacik said, "Our visa service takes too long and the lines are too long. The process has to be simplified."
Ian Jarrett
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