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Here we go again with tourism excuses


Deja vu. 50,000 excuses why tourists do not come to Indonesia except the real reasons. This time its the Government not allocating enough funds.The real question is whether the federal authorities are in fact spending their funds wisely and without massive leakage to individuals’ pockets.

One of the reasons why tourists go elsewhere is that they get better bang for their bucks than Indonesia. The food here is more expensive than, say, KL. The infrastructure is almost non existant.

The only things cheap and good here are the pembantu-type entertainers at unsavory bars, partying at Stadium and other night spots and golf for the om om genit from Seberang. They are not exactly the type of tourists that Indonesia wants to attract.

clipped from thejakartapost.com
Funding squeeze blamed for tourism woes
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, MedanA lack of funding to promote tourism in Indonesia internationally is largely responsible for a steady decline in the number of foreign tourists visiting the country, an official from the Culture and Tourism Ministry said Saturday.

After more than 5.3 million foreign tourists visited the country in 2004, the ministry recorded a drop to approximately five million visitors in 2005 and 4.7 million visitors in 2006.

Deputy of Resources at the Culture and Tourism Ministry Putu Laksaguna said the government allocates insufficient funding to develop Indonesia’s tourism potential, resulting in many regions not being promoted internationally.

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11 responses to “Here we go again with tourism excuses”

  1. Rusdy Avatar
    Rusdy

    Considering the wealth of nature and cultural holiday in Indonesia, I only can be ashamed with the state of tourism in Indonesia.

    Thankfully, there are quite numerous information from the expats that living in Indonesia. For example, lots of tourism infrastructure in Bunaken, Sulawesi/Celebes that are run by expats from Europe.

    At least these expats appreciate Indonesia more than the government itself. How ironic 😦

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  2. Oigal Avatar
    Oigal

    Its a joke, line up for hours at hot, dirty, glum, rundown airports Bali and Jakarta. Officials who seem to think you are doing them a favour by coming into the country as tourists. A tit for tat visa policy (and Indonesia is not really in a position to play that game).

    Once outside, the unsuspecting and naive (but not for long) is attacked on all sides by two bit scam artists (taxi to city mister $50.00, true story).

    Tourist attractions, without fail covered in litter, trash and scam artists. A true tourist destination does not need a big budget, word of mouth is powerful.

    Word of mouth for Indonesia is “gee I didn’t know it was so dirty?

    Sad part is, tourism run correctly is “money for nothing” and everybody wins

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  3. arifabdull Avatar
    arifabdull

    Indonesian Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik want to copy “Malaysia, Truly Asia”?

    But, except for the expensive price for food and accomodition I loves & realy enjoy been there.

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  4. Achmad Sudarsono Avatar
    Achmad Sudarsono

    Once again, Oigal, you come to my country, you criticize, try to rub our noses in our poverty, implying, snidely, that you have the answers. If so, you could always peddle them at fly-blown aboriginal settlements in Australia, where the life expectancy is about the same as Malawi or the Sudan. Some poor, struggling taxi driver tries to earn a little extra for the family and he’s a pan-handling tout. Go for Gold, Australia. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi.

    Here’s a tidbit, Mr. Aussie: “om om genit from Seberang. They are not exactly the type of tourists that Indonesia wants to attract.”

    Australi is ‘Seberang,’ isn’t it ? Or don’t you speak Bahasa Indonesia ?

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  5. Oigal Avatar
    Oigal

    Ah Ass Mad,

    I am sorry if I had known your Dad was the taxi driver, I surely would have slipped him the extra $50 but only he promised to spend a least half on condoms and not make the same mistake again.. oh an ya bisa goblok..

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  6. achmadsudarsono Avatar
    achmadsudarsono

    Oigal, I think is better if you respect Indonesians (like me), while you are in their country. As your senior, it’s just the standard courtesy here.

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  7. Oigal Avatar
    Oigal

    I have the utmost respect for Indonesians as the vast majority are unlike you (for a start they are Indonesian).

    But yet again, I stand lanced by your razor wit..ho de ho

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  8. achmadsudarsono Avatar
    achmadsudarsono

    In that case, why are you criticizing and pointing out the negative all the time ? And why do Bules when they get here suddenly feel like
    they have the answers ?

    It’s simple: the White Man’s burden (Wikipedia that one, folks).

    The unspoken implication in all this whining, by the likes of you, Incoup, and others, is that you somehow know better. Indonesia’s just a backdrop for your subconscious fantasies about saving the natives from themselves. As Paul Theroux wrote, ‘Tarzan is an Ex Pat.’

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  9. Oigal Avatar
    Oigal

    Yawn.. You have already said that!

    I (don’t know about anyone else, unlike you I don’t claim to speak on behalf of others) can’t continue to humour your pretending to speak for Indonesians unless you come up with something new.

    There is a limit to even feeding trolls for amusement you know.

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  10. Achmad Sudarsono Avatar
    Achmad Sudarsono

    Evade, evade, evade. Hey — that was my trick, remember ? PR 101 won’t work on me — or the readers of this Blog, pal. Sidestep the wider critique if you want. Comes don’t to a few simple ideas:

    * Building a nation, especially in a place like Indonesia, is a very complex task.

    * Alot of Indonesia’s problems come down to poverty, pure and simple. Poverty = lack of resources to solve problems, including building institutions. Corruption’s a symptom of poverty (and a cause, but to a much less degree than people like you, looking for a little moral thrill, realize).

    * Most economists don’t really understand the long-term forces that make some countries rich and some poor. You certainly don’t, pal.

    You, like a lot of know-it-all Bules, just keep barking at the symptoms. Reality is complicated, Oigal.

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  11. Achmad Sudarsono Avatar
    Achmad Sudarsono

    P.S. — I love how just because I can speak English, your mind refuses to accept I’m Indonesian.

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