$Unique_ID{bob00251} $Pretitle{} $Title{Indonesia Tourism} $Subtitle{} $Author{Department of Information Republic of Indonesia} $Affiliation{Embassy of Indonesia, Washington DC} $Subject{tourist indonesia island west tourists east foreign national tourism city see tables } $Date{1990} $Log{See Table 26.*0025101.tab } Title: Indonesia Book: Indonesia 1990 an Official Handbook Author: Department of Information Republic of Indonesia Affiliation: Embassy of Indonesia, Washington DC Date: 1990 Tourism The development of the tourist industry in Indonesia receives great attention from the government as this industry can exploit the resources and potentials of the tourist trade so as to become a reliable economic activity; to increase foreign exchange earnings; to expand and distribute business and employment opportunities, especially to the local population; and to support regional development. It also introduces Indonesia's art and culture, and natural beauty to overseas visitors and domestic tourists while thereby enhancing the appreciation and love of the country among the young generation. To increase the flow of foreign tourists to Indonesia, several policies have been pursued, among other things by extending visa exemption for a period of two months to tourists from 31 countries with great potentials for the marketing of tourism. The countries concerned are : Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Canada, the USA, Denmark, Sweden, France, West Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Austria, Belgium, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Greece, Switzerland, Ireland, Iceland, Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Lichtenstein, Malta and Taiwan. Besides, the government has provided incentives in the form of relief of taxes, regional retribution and facilities for investors. The policy on international flights is connected with the opening of tourist gates and the expansion of the network services to tourist destinations namely : Bali, Pontianak, Manado, Kupang, Biak, Medan and Batam island. Various flight agreements between the national companies and foreign airlines have been concluded in order to increase the flow of visitors to Indonesia. At the end of the Fourth Five-Year Development Plan period (1988/89) tourist facilities had been improved in the following places; Lake Laut Tawar in Aceh; Tanjung Pinang city and Penyengat island in Riau; the Manggar beach in East Kalimantan; villages of Sade, Sembalun Lawang and Batu Koq in West Nusatenggara; Lasiana beach in East Nusatenggara; Tirta Baru beach at Banda Naira in the Moluccas and the completion of the Borobudur and Prambanan temples in Central Java and the Special Territory of Yogyakarta. Endeavors towards promoting tourism include the improvement of hotels and restaurants and transportation facilities. Besides, plans are under way to develop and upgrade the quality of tourist destination areas through a national tourist attraction package program containing several tourist attractions with a special appeal to tourists. In addition, efforts to attract more overseas visitors were in the form of inviting several foreign travel agencies to Indonesia to see for themselves the prospects of the tours. On the other hand, the government has placed officials at its embassies abroad to see to it that visitors will get their visas in less than two days. To promote even more tourism, Indonesia has participated in many international exhibitions such as : Travel Mart Adeleide 1988 in Australia, Asean Konichiwa Travel Fair 1988 in Tokyo, World Travel Market 1988 in London, Asean Tourism Forum 1989 in Singapore, Intertour 1989 in Hongkong, Travel Mart 1989 in Bali, Bit Milan 1989 in Italy and ITB Berlin 1989 in West Germany. The development of conventional tourists include the study and development of conventional centers, promotion of conventional tourism in potential market countries, participation in conventional sales seminars together with tourist industries in various foreign convention market countries, arrangement and issuance of various materials for conventional promotion and manuals/guides/instructions on conventional undertakings. The number of foreign tourists to Indonesia kept on increasing, namely from 638,855 in 1983 to 700,910 in 1984 to 749,351 in 1985 to 825,097 in 1986 to 1,050,014 in 1987 and to 1,301,249 in 1988. The average growth rate of foreign tourists in 1983-1989 was 15.6% annually, and the amount of foreign exchange earnings in 1988/89 was US$ 1,027 million. In the field of accommodation, there has been a significant increase in investment for the building of more hotels and hotel rooms in the domestic as well as the foreign investment. The number of classified hotels and hotel rooms increased from 290 hotels with 23,964 rooms in 1987 to 402 hotels with 31,073 rooms in 1988. Up to 1988, the total number of tours and travel agencies in Indonesia was 708 whereas in 1987 the number was 605, meaning an increase of 17.0%. Up to 1988, there were 2,825 tours handled by the country's travel agents. The target in the sector of tourism during the Fifth REPELITA period was to reach about 2.5 up to 3.5 million of foreign tourists at the end of the Plan, a growth of 15% yearly, with an average of 12 days length of stay and US$75 daily expenditure per person. The table below shows the number of hotels. [See Table 26.: Development of hotels and rooms, 1984 - 1988] In support to this target, the government has the following main programs in the field of marketing: 1. The organization of "Indo Tourism" in 1990 in Jakarta 2. The organization of Visit Indonesia Year 1991 3. Participation in the Visit Asean Year 1992 4. The organization of the PATA Conference and Pata Mart 1991. 5. The organization of the Asean Tourism Forum in 1991. 6. The organization of the Asean Festival of Performing arts in 1991. In this connection, as of April 3, 1989, the government has launched the National Tourism Awareness campaign which is aimed at mobilizing the people's potentials consisting of the government apparatuses, tourist industrial entrepreneurs and general societies to support in achieving the target of tourist development programs under the Fifth REPELITA, especially the organization of Visit Indonesia Year 1991 and Visit Asean Year 1992. The central theme of the National Tourism Awareness Campaign is to socialize seven tourist attractions, called SAPTA PESONA covering elements of security, order, tidiness, coolness, beauty, hospitality, and memory/momento. TOURIST DESTINATION AREAS To encourage more foreign tourists to visit Indonesia, the government has opened 2 new tourist destination areas, namely the provinces of Lampung and West Kalimantan, bringing the total number of major tourist destination areas to become 19 spread throughout the country, including the following provinces: THE SPECIAL TERRITORY OF ACEH Nicknamed "Mecca's front veranda", the special territory of Aceh, Indonesia's northernmost province, bears witness to many centuries of islamic tradition. About 18 km east of Lhokseumawe along the Pasai Beach are the historical remains of Indonesia's first moslem kingdom. Today, Islamic predominance in Aceh is attested to the many mosques, of which the Baiturrahman Mosque in the heart of Banda Aceh, the provincial capital, is the most striking. Gunung Leuser, Indonesia's largest national park and the habitat of the Sumatran two-horned rhino is located in Aceh. It is accessible from Kotacane or Takengon, in South-eastern Aceh, as well as from Medan in North Sumatra. RIAU ISLANDS The geographic location of this Province which includes the tin islands of Bangka, Belitung and Singkep, is quite strategic, particularly because it is on the commercial waterway of the Strait of Malacca. This also made acculturation with other culture possible. There are several historic remains in Riau, such as the ancient "Muara Takus" Hindu temple dating back to the 9th century A.D. and the old palace of Sultan Sri Indrapura of 1832. The island of Batam, apart from being an industrial complex, is also one of the tourist destination areas. NORTH SUMATRA The most ancient cultures dating back to prehistoric times, which form the basis of the province's cultural background and traditions are found here. North Sumatra and adjacent islands have many sites of interest, among others : Hilisimatano, a village on Nias Island, noted for its ritual stone jumping and ancient traditional houses; the Sipisopiso waterfall; Pematang Purba, a 200-year-old village, famous for the houses of its tribal chiefs; Lake Toba, one of the largest and highest inland lakes in the world; the 300 sq mile island of Samosir with its megaliths and 300-year old stone seats in the middle of Lake Toba; Bawomataluo village, 400 metres above sea level and accessible by 480 stone steps; and the Grand Mosque in Medan. WEST SUMATRA The home of the matrilineal Minangkabau people is the beautiful land of West Sumatra. It is a region of spectacular natural beauty. Scattered through its highland terrain are picturesque lakes, suitable for sailing, fishing and swimming. Bukittinggi the province's coolest city on the slope of the Bukit Barisan at 3,000 feet above sea level is about 80 km from the coastal capital city of Padang. The region is not only rich in traditional architecture such as the horn-shaped museum or the impressive Sianok Canyon, but is also noted for its local handicrafts such filegree work and silver-threaded songket fabrics. SOUTH SUMATRA South Sumatra province with its capital city of Palembang is renowned as the center of historical remains of the Srivijaya Kingdom. Musi, the second longest river of the country, flows across the center of Palembang and divides the provincial capital into two parts, spanned by the Ampera bridge, under which passenger as well as freight vessels continuously pass through. This province offers visitors a variety of traditional dances, such as the Gending Srivijaya, Tanggai, Dana and Sekapur Sirih; and popular folk songs as the Ibung, Kabile-bile, Dulmuluk and Batang Hari Sembilan. Lake Ranau, Mt. Dempo, Pagar Alam waterfall, Matras coast and Tanjung Kelayang coast offer scenic panoramas and fresh air aside from being interesting archaeologic sites. Other tourist attractions in this province hold out promising prospects. THE SPECIAL TERRITORY OF THE CAPITAL CITY OF JAKARTA The gateway of Indonesia, Jakarta, is a cosmopolitan city with over seven million inhabitants, shaped by a colorful turbulence of history. It is the center of not only the nation's economic, political and cultural life, but also of its commerce, industry, education and science. Jakarta's architecture reflects to a large extent the influx of outside influences which came and found a home in this vital seaport city. The Taman Fatahillah is one of the oldest sections of Jakarta also known as Old Batavia the name for Jakarta in the colonial days. The old Town Hall has become the Jakarta Historical Museum and displays such items as old historical documents and furniture from the Dutch colonial period. The Central Museum on Merdeka Barat is reputed to be one of the finest in Southeast Asia, with its wondrous artifacts and excellent collection of antique Chinese porcelain - acquired by Indonesians centuries ago as items of trade - is especially worth seeing. Opposite the museum, in the center of Merdeka Square, stands the National Monument topped by a flame of gold and a Museum of National Struggle in the basement. A popular spot is Taman Ismail Marzuki, a cluster of theaters and exhibition halls which make up the Jakarta Art Center. For relaxation and pleasure, there is the Ancol Dreamland Recreation Park with an oceanarium, swimming pools, a golf course, hotels an "Art Market", The "Fantasy Land", a marina and other facilities. WEST JAVA This is a land of peace and scenic beauty and within easy reach from Jakarta. West Java's soil is fertile, and its northern plains are dotted with rice granaries and with tea, rubber and guinine estates and plantations. There are several National Reserves Parks here; one of them, Ujung Kulon, the first such park in Indonesia is the home of the nearly extinct one-horned Javan rhino, and at Mt Gede National Park, plants remiseent of Switzerland, as the edelweis, grow in alpine meadows. West Java is also renowned for its Botanical Gardens in Bogor at the foot of Mt. Salak and an hour drive from Jakarta. The Gardens have some 15,000 botanical specimens, while its branch in Cibodas, several kms higher up, harbours plants from mountainous and temperate climate regions, Pulau Dua is a sanctuary for migrating birds. The capital of West Java is Bandung, a hill station with its impressive panorama of sloping mountains and the crater of Mt. Tangkubanperahu (upturned boat) an active vulcano. West Java's popular arts include the Angklung music (played on bamboo instruments), the Wayang Golek (costumed wooden puppets) and several traditional dances. CENTRAL JAVA Central Java is renowned for its landscapes candis (temples). Its most famous temple is the Buddhist Candi Borobudur. Located on a hill overlooking lush green rice fields outside Yogyakarta, the temple built in the eighth century, contains an impressive collection of Buddhist reliefs. And on the Dieng plateau at an altitude of 6,880 feet above sea level stand the ruins of centuries-old Hindu temples named after characters of the Mahabharata epic. Worth seeing is also the "kraton" (palace of the Sultan) with its heritage of refined court dances as the "Serimpi" and "Bedoyo" which were formerly performed only by the daughters of the nobility, but are now also danced beyond the kraton walls. THE SPECIAL TERRITORY OF YOGYAKARTA Yogyakarta is famous for being the cradle of Javanese art and culture. Tradition comes to life at festivities like the "Gerebek" or "Sekaten" celebrated in all grandeur. They bring about a serene atmosphere of centuries-old Javanese customs and rituals. Tourists visiting Yogyakarta usually make it a point to visit the Batik Research Institute where the techniques of Batik manufacturing are studied and improved, and the Prambanan Hindu temples with the main Shiva temple forming the natural setting of the "Ramayana Ballet" performance staged regularly during full moon each month from May to October. Arts and crafts flourish in Yogyakarta, as skilled craftsmen produce leather wayang puppets, leather parchment carvings, bamboo handicrafts, silverware, batik and various other handicrafts for souvenirs, using centuries-old techniques. EAST JAVA This province offers tourists many objects of historic interest. Buddhist sanctuaries and Hindu temples comprising many architectural splendor are impressive legacies of past empires including the powerful and extensive Majapahit Empire of the late 13th century. Indeed, almost every village, town and city in East Java seems to have its own unique historic relics and legends. Famous for their magnificent scenery in this province are Mt. Bromo and the Sand Sea, and the mountain resorts of Tretes and Pandaan. The otherwise tranquil island of Madura is disrupted occasionally during the regular bull races or "Karapan Sapi". BALI This "Island of thousands temples" or also frequently referred to as an island of unending festivals attended by dance performances to the accompaniment of the gamelan is at the moment world famous. Religion and art form the core of the rich Balinese culture, and dance and music is part of village life. Almost every day there are temple festivals, and on special occasions visitors will see women in procession wearing colorful costumes carrying bountiful offerings on their heads for religious ceremonies to the temples, numbering about 20,000 in all. Bali is famous for its shops and galleries, and its artists who produce stone and wood carvings, highly ornamented gold and silver jewelry, traditional paintings and bright-colored "songket" fabrics. NORTH SULAWESI The island of Bunaken in the bay of Manado and its surrounding reefs are known for its unexcelled wealth of coral gardens in crystal clear waters and the abundance of marine life. Ancient tombs are also found in Airmadidi, Sawangan and Likupang where the dead were placed in sitting position together with their belongings. The Minahasa region is the birthplace of the "Kolintang" music, played on wooden xylophone. Other musical instruments of Minahasa are the bamboo flute and the conch shell. The province comprises the northeastern arm of the island of Sulawesi and the capital city of the province, Manado, is relatively a sophisticated town. SOUTH SULAWESI The mountains of South Sulawesi present a fantastic panorama of natural beauty and the long drive from Ujungpandang to "Tana Toraja" has its rewards. Further north through rugged country this land of the Toraja people is known for its grand and unique burial ceremonies and cliffs of hanging graves. The most elaborate ceremony on the island is the "Feast of the Dead" a lavish and expensive funeral event which lasts several days and is accorded only to members of the nobility. Batumerang, some 40 km from Ujungpandang the province's capital is renowned for its hundreds of species of colorful butterflies, and for the prehistoric rock paintings dating back to some 4,000 years ago. EAST KALIMANTAN East Kalimantan's main attraction is the culture of its Dayak tribes who live in long houses along the rivers which crisscross the province. One of the most scenic trips in East Kalimantan is sailing upstream the Mahakam river. The people, who live in remote areas along the rivers maintain their beliefs in supernatural and ancestral worship. Kersik Luway is known for its orchid forest which is supervised by the Nature Preservation and Conservation Directorate. Of particular interest is the black orchid which blooms between September and December. WEST KALIMANTAN West Kalimantan with its capital city Pontianak is renowned for its equator monument. Kapuas, the longest river of the country flows across the center of Pontianak and is sailed by vessels up to one thousand km. There are other tourist attractions such as the Mujahidin Grand Mosque, Abdulrachman Sultanate Mosque in Pontianak, Batu Payung, Pasir Panjang and Kinjing beaches. Its traditional arts are Gambus, Ketipang rebana and Tawak-tawak. WEST NUSATENGGARA Part of West Nusatenggara, Lombok lies across the Strait of Bali. Still unspoilt, it has some of the culture and arts in common with the Balinese. It is easily accessible by ferry and by air from Bali and Surabaya, East Java. The island's attractions are its white sand beaches, the summer palace at Namada and the floating court of justice of Taman Mayura. The Summer palace dates back to 1805, built by the Balinese king of Karangasem. The palace has beautiful terraced gardens, bathing pools and a lake. MALUKU (THE MOLUCCAS) Relics of the old days of the Spice Trade are found on Banda, Saparua and other islands of Central Maluku. The old Dutch fortress "Duurstede" on Saparua was the site of battles during the 1817 popular uprisings led by Thomas Matulessy against the Dutch East India Company. The Banda islands were famous during the 16th and 17th centuries for their nutmeg plantations. A former mansion of the Colonialist Dutch governor generals, an old Lutheran church, old stately houses and a fortress are among the island's reminders of the days of the spice trade. Seram is one of the largest islands of Maluku (Moluccas), and on this island is the Manusela National Park harboring both Asian and Australian mammal species. The sea gardens of Banda are especially famous. EAST NUSATENGGARA Komodo is a small island of 280 square km, located between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores. Barren except for palm trees, Komodo Island is famous for its prehistoric giant lizards which are considered the last of their kind remaining in the world today. The Varanus Komodoensis can grow to a length of three metres and lives on carrions of goats, deer and even the carcases of its own kind. Flores island has good beaches and a unique tourist attraction, the three crater lakes of Kelimutu mountain each had a different color. LAMPUNG Lampung's main attraction is the National Archeological Park and the Way Kambas Nature Preservation where one can witness Sumatran elephants and tigers. Way Kambas is a training center for elephants in making them helpfull to man. It also offer tourists who want to visit Mt. Krakato boats for charter from Kalianda beach.