Indonesia produces 40% of world’s pearl

“Indonesia is producing 40% of pearls in the world. This is a great potential to be developed,” according to Mrs. Herawatie Wirayudha, Chairman of the Association of Mutumanikam (Jewels) Nusantara Indonesia. Well, this is not much we know, is not it? Thus, the collection comprising of bracelets, rings, necklaces, earrings, brooches and other jewelry has been displayed in a large exhibition on 10-13 December 2009 in Hall B JCC, Jakarta.

The exhibition featured a collection of high-quality pearls made by Indonesian craftsmen with an attractive design. Gem-producing areas and the largest pearl in Indonesia is located in  Moluccas and  Lombok islands. This pearl has been exported to the United States, Japan, Geneva, Milan and Zurich.

“High-quality jewelry Mutumanikam has become attraction for tourist to visit Indonesia,” said DR. Sapta Nirwandar, Marketing Director General of Tourism of Republic of Indonesia.

Therefore this jewelry exhibition was held in conjunction with the exhibition of tourism promotion. Tourism Ministry office featured 12 booths of tourism. Performing arts accompany in the area of exhibitions.

According Syamsul Lussa , Tourism Market Development Director, “There are three things that cause foreign tourists to come to a tourist destination which are Accommodation, Transport and Souvenir (Mutumanikam). Hence this is an opportunity for us to support this exhibition. It is expected that this support will increase tourist arrivals. “

Village of Mutumanikam

In this exhibition one would explore the cultural customs of the archipelago. “Our country consists of 33 provinces that have 300 interesting ethnic diversity headdresses, for an example. Head ornaments for girls, for married women would be found in every region and every ethnic. This shows the richness of Indonesian culture, and yet many of our people who do not know about this,” said Mrs. Hatta Rajasa one of the Foundation board member.

The event was organized by Mutumanikam Nusantara Foundation, supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of RI. Mutumanikam Nusantara Foundation is a non-profit foundation; raise the lovers and crafters of jewels. The goal of this foundation is to foster job creation through Mutumanikam  (jewelers) industry to support the welfare of the people. Formed by the First Lady Hj. Ani Yudhoyono, Mutumanikam activities include skill training for craftmen, SMEs, Discussion, Research, Marketing, Exhibition domestically and abroad.

One of the prominent activities of this foundation is Mutumanikam Rural Development, which is equipped with workshops, dormitories artisans, galleries and such complex of café. There are also vegetable and fruit gardens and animal husbandry / fish development by involving local communities. Its location is in the village of Three-Cariu Cibatu near to Bogor city some 60 KM from Jakarta on 1.2 ha land.

The establishment of this Mutumanikam village, to include workshops activities aim at:
a. A training place for craftsmen and designers ;
b. To enhance standard of living and welfare of the craftsmen concurrently employment creation
c. Quality control to include quality of materials and finish products for export and domestic consumption. And to develop tourist areas to help the local community.==

Destination Development Focus in 2010

Where will you take part?
The development of tourism destinations in Indonesia now will
determine how the movement of development and improvement of results can
achieved through the activation of the tourism industry. In Department of Culture and Tourism – Depbudpar, there are two Director Generals each is of Tourism Marketing and Tourism Destination Development who in national scale constitute a two-spearhead of Indonesian tourism. So they require cooperation and
support for the competition spread over by other international tourism destination and products that they waged for the sake of winning international tourists business. DG of Tourism Destinations Development, Firmansyah Rahim, recently
has described the outlines of activities that will go to implementation. They include Focus of 2010 activities, Program Development for Tourism Destinations, and Destination Strategy that will be applied.
Where and how you can take part?

Focus Activities in 2010 will consist of the followings:

1. Increased quality in tourism attraction through supporting the facilities and
infrastructure assistance and deconcentration.
2. Campaigning for the application of seven conscious elements called Sapta Pesona
at the national and regional level through media campaign.
3. PNPM to support the development of tourist villages.
4. To facilitate investment and tourism investment clinics.
5. Certification application support for labor and tourism business.
6. Development of SMEs in the field of tourism.
7. Formulation of travel pattern for students – Edu-tourism, and special interest tours.
8. Synergic coordination and cross-sector, to cover Public Works, Transportation,
Immigration, DKP, Forestry etc., for the development of tourism destinations
in the region.
9. Strengthening the management of tourism destinations through DMO model –
Destination Management Organization, – in some destinations tourism in the region.
10. Follow-up to the Law No. 10 about tourism.

Tourism Destinations Program

1. Development of tourism attraction, the attraction of cultural tourism,
natural attractions including marine; diving, cruise, small islands and
marine sports, and man-made facilities.
2. Investment and business development, this includes to enhance quality business and industrial areas of tourism, facilitation of tourism investment and strengthening of business or tourism industry network; including the development of travel patterns, corridors, circuit and accessibility of tourism destinations.
3. Development of standardization and quality of tourism services, with
HR competency standard formulation, and business tourism, including
accreditation and certification in tourism.
4. To increase capital support for the Tourism Village Development within the framework of poverty alleviation through tourism.
5. Community empowerment in tourism destination. This will enhance community participation through application of  Seven conscious charm and attractions as well as implementation of codes of ethics of tourism in the tourism destination.
6. Management and regulatory support to the capacity improvement efforts in destination management and destination development administration.
7. Coordinating the cross-sector and support the development of tourism
area. This includes improving the competitiveness of tourism, among others:
improvement of visa services, transportation (air, land and sea),
level of security and safety, and accommodation, including support
development of tourism facilities and infrastructure.

Tourism Destination Strategy

And this is the strategy to be applied to support the  activities mentioned above, namely:
Market attractiveness:
The development of tourism destinations based on preferences and behavior analysis (travel behavior) and the market psychographic (target market) and market pull for:
• Inbound Tourists
• Domestic Tourists
Pushing Products:
Tourism destination development approach will be based on potential, the characteristics and quality resources according to international standard.
Community Empowerment:
Tourism destination development approach by involving the role of active participation and enhance community capacity and providing local benefits and sustainability of resources in tourism activities.
Investment Encouragement:
Approach to development through increased investment in destinations both from
government and private sector for infrastructure projects and business in field of tourism.
Institution and Management:
Approach to tourism destination development through support the institutional management and integration by applying management and the synergistic regulation.

So. Back to the question: Where and how you can actively take part? ===

When Julia Roberts in Bali

Since mid-October, and will end within these days, the process of shooting and directing the film “Eat Pray Love” (EPL) stared by Hollywood actress, Julia Roberts, in several locations in Bali, has been kept super tight. “Antara” News Agency reported, that Head of Public Relations of Bali Provincial Police, Commissioner Gde Sugianyar in Denpasar, admitted a series of tight security during the “shooting” scheduled to last in a month.

As an example during the “shooting” in the Village of Bentuyung, Ubud area, Gianyar District, it is impossible for anyone who does not have access to the location to witness the process.

“We have just got a duty to secure the location for the filming. Our officers are always on alert at the scene but could not to watch the movie making process, “he said.

Failure to be able to see, let alone take pictures of “shooting”, an AFP reporter also experienced, who can only be at the farthest distance beyond the isolated location.

Bentuyung village, in Ubud area, has a natural rice field and distinctive buildings of old Balinese architecture. The community also still doing local activities that are unique, as visitors would feel “returned” to the past of Bali.

In one area of rice fields where several local people houses located are then selected to be the main location for the film shooting.

Because security around the site was so tight, residents were given local temporary identity card complete with a special vest. Village residents should wear two ID attributes to pass around the shooting locations.

According to PR Gde Kabid Sugianyar, based on the schedule obtained, Julia Roberts and the entire movie-making support will be in Bali for a month.

They do the whole process of taking pictures in some locations elected in Bali, such as Banjar Terrace, Museum Antonio Blanco, and a photocopy shop in a market.

Film with major star Julia “Pretty Woman” Roberts, has a plot of the story of an American widow (Julia Roberts), who are in search for authenticity after experiencing the events that shook her. From a Western woman who has a modern way of thinking  , finally she sought spiritual authenticity in India.

From this it then becomes the main plot in the second word “EPL”, namely “Pray”. After exploring herself with spirituality, she later arrived in Bali, to find love, which is the third word of “EPL”, namely “Love”.

Indonesia’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik made a visit to shooting location. However, did not meet with the star, but only with producers and
a number of film crews.

Jero Wacik stated his thank that the producer has chosen Bali as a location for such a world-class film-making.

“Automatically it will be a good promotion for Indonesia and Bali, “he said.

Looking ahead, Jero Wacik also expresses his invitation for other producers who want to do shooting in Indonesia, not only in Bali. Beautiful sights much spread in many parts of this country. ===

Tourism is now a Profit or Revenue Center

Ministry of Culture and Tourism (Depbudpar) is now included in the Coordinating Minister for Economic Coordination and no longer in the group coordination of the Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare. Another meaning, like in a corporation or a large company, Tourism Activity considered a profit center or revenue center, and no longer a cost center. Departments for Welfare can be said a “cost expenditure” without expect provide direct economic income, but its function is to serve and improve the “welfare” of society. Agency – institution of Economic Affairs, in addition to spend “operational costs”, resulted in directly output at the same time “revenue” for the state and society.

“The entry of Tourism Ministry under Economy Coordinating Minister will make the role of tourism economy increasingly clear, the contribution expected to the national economy would be greater, “said Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik after attended the celebration ceremony for the re-election as Minister in the United Indonesia Cabinet II (2009-2014) in the Hall Building Sapta Pesona Jakarta, Thursday (22/10).

Minister Jero Wacik gives sort of exercise , when the funds for tourism promotion
increased, foreign exchange earning from tourists visit will be even greater. “If our budget is Rp 5 trillion, contribution of tourism in 2013 could reach Rp 250 trillion, ”
he said.

Contribution would be derived from foreign tourists visit  U.S. $ 10 billion or around Rp 100 trillion and expenditures of domestic tourists (wisnus) of Rp 150 trillion.

Culture and Tourism Ministry in the first United Indonesia Cabinet (2004-2009) has been under coordination of Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare.

Acquisition of foreign exchange for 2008 tourism year amounted to U.S. $ 7.3 billion from 6.4 million foreign tourists visit. In next year 2010 target visits of foreign tourists increased to 7 million people, while in the proposed Budget for 2010 will allocate Rp 1.3 trillion.

Meanwhile, UN-WTO has just issued a report containing “Road Map to Recovery” and one of its core claim that “Travel & tourism can play an essential role in the post-crisis recovery by providing jobs, infrastructure, stimulating trade and aiding development and should thus be a key consideration at future global economic summit.

“Today world leaders are working together in ways that would have been unimaginable at any time in the past, to coordinate and collaborate on their economies, their climate response and their development agenda. ”

It says that the current crisis offers opportunities for the tourism sector to step up investment in human resources, in better market knowledge and in technology and innovation, as well to rethink the existing growth models and embrace the principles of sustainable development. ===

New Minister and targets for tourism

Today Monday, 19/10/2009′ve certainly Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik be sworn in again as Minister at the same institution at the Second United Indonesia Cabinet. Previously reported, regardless of who will become the new minister, immediate working procedures of the new Cabinet, is, as soon as President and Vice President-elect sworn in, the new arrangement Cabinet announced soon, and inaugurated. The Minister immediately after it will submit a five-year work program as a filler for
medium-term work programs for their respective fields. And immediately
after that also, each would give Strategic Plan, which contains the program for years of work per year.

Regarding tourism, Marketing Director General of Tourism, Sapta Nirwandar, in a Round Table Discussion on Tuesday last week 13/9/2009

describes the macro strategy to take to the year 2010,   namely:

Forecast on tourist arrival:

Year        Moderate         Pessimistic     Optimist

2010         6.421.665        6,759,647      7,097,630

2011         6.627.275        6,976,079      7,324,883

2012         6.832.884        7,192,510      7,552,135

2013         7.038.494         7,408,941     7,779,388

2014          7.244.103        7,625,372     8,006,641

Citing Euromonitor, September 2009, forecast on the number of
outbound tourists from the focus countries of Indonesia market looks as follows:

Country          2009                      2010             2011

Singapore    14,550,400    14,984,600     15,582,300

Malaysia        4,805,400      5,107,800       5,509,700

Japan          15,532,200     14,724,100     14,830,300

Germany      81,339,200     82,315,300     83,550,000

Netherlands 18,342,500      18,565,300     18,720,600

UK               68,362,700      69,683,200       1,111,500

France         26,929,000      27,129,200      27,707,000

Russia          38,733,500      42,117,700      46,032,900

Korea           10,718,800      10,781,400      11,131,100

Australia         6,264,200       6,711,000      7,161,800

China            35,707,400     33,149,700     35,177,300

India               8,672,400       8,994,400      9,434,300

Arab               2,419,900        2,355,500      2,305,000

UAE                3,539,200        3,757,300      3,998,600

Egypt              5,365,900        5,383,900      5,535,600

USA               61,470,800      60,642,500     61,094,600

Vietnam          1,836,700        2,231,900       2,690,000

Philippines      1,641,000         1,805,700      1,994,900

The target for the number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia
by the Department of Culture and Tourism, represented by two
alternatives:

Alternative I

Year      Moderate           Pessimistic         Optimistic

2010      6.400.000           6,700,000          7,000,000

2011      7.100.000           7,400,000          7,700,000

2012      7.900.000           8,200,000           8,500,000

2013      8.700.000           9,000,000           9,300,000

2014       9.700.000         10,000,000         10,300,000

Alternative II

Year         Moderate         Pessimistic           Optimistic

2010         6.400.000           6,700,000          7,000,000

2011          7.100.000          7,400,000          7,700,000

2012          8.400.000           8,700,000         9,000,000

2013          8.700.000           9,000,000         9,300,000

2014         11.400.000         11,700,000       12,000,000

Marketing Director General of Tourism, described macro strategy to
taken for the year 2010, namely:

1. Focus on the marketing horizon with more use ‘online’.
2. Utilize electronic transactions (e-transaction)
3. Integrated marketing communication: – Public relations news with value
tall; – Co-marketing; – Increasing the role of Vito – Visit Indonesia
Tourism Office, and the Embassy.
4. Facilitating consumer shows and direct selling.
5. Fam trip for journalists, leaders, and celebrities.
6. Focus marketing:
- Thematic Products: SPA, diving, golf – new products outside of nature and
culture: religious services and tourism, green tourism.
7. Incentive systems – stimulus.
8. Adding accessibility – flight.
9. Improving the quality of service – airport, taxis, toilets, Visa on
Arrival etc.

Information and data above appears to be processed
for operationalization, and can be expected to create a plan
employment and targets in 2010.

Challenges and Opportunities

Director General of Tourism Marketing made a list of challenges that will
encountered in the field of tourism, namely:

1. Products and services, about the readiness of destination, the packet
competitive tourism, Events of tourism, and increased quality
services.
2. In the case of air transport capacity, the amount of air seat capacity,
direct flight, coverage, and the role of the national flag carrier.
3. Facilitation in the field of travel, is about BVKS – Free Visa
for a short visit – until now only on 4 markets, increased
services at airports and harbors.
4. Regarding the image, the impact of terror acts, natural disasters in Indonesia
and ASEAN, plague the world – regional and national action
crime – the murder of tourists etc..
5. In the field of marketing, is about on-line and off-line,
Event marketing and distribution-channel, the quality of foreign language use, Korean, German, French, Arabic.
6. The quantity in the field of marketing that is still considered limited.

Instead as an opportunity, in the economic field is the economic crisis
world began to recover, the Indonesian economy to grow positively. In
political field, the successful implementation of the democratic general elections, the response from positive market include the travel warnings. Successful  Police deal in overcoming terrorists and community support for the activities of Police, also become factors that create tourism development opportunities.

Regarding the competitiveness, the availability of luxurious tourism products yet affordable, and superior product in some type ie nature tourism, cultural tourism and tourism in the men-made facilities.===

Calculations by Minister of Tourism

“I’m not counting any. I have been elected members of Parliament, October 1, will be inaugurated, and the rules do not allow double posts. So I ask for resignation as the Minister, ” said Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik. He answered question of a journalist, what calculations, so he chose to quit as Minister. He counted other matters. The estimated number of 27 million residents who are expected to go back for hometown travel during Moslem Lebaran season this year, will spend Rp 16.2 trillion. According to him, the two sides benefits will be achieved, going home Lebaran is bliss, at the same time, pumping the economy with an average national expenditure Rp 600,000 per trip citizens forth.

Perhaps it was a sign Jero Wacik will concentrate in the parliament October 1, 2009 since then. But whether he will be appointed again as Minister by President-elect SBY, now is certainly not known.

He stressed again how from the beginning the Minister’s attention has been put as well on domestic tourism development.

“We push campaign on KNCN – Know your country Love your country land activities,” said the Minister. Year 2008 is estimated to achieve 225 million
domestic tourists, and he calculated that the volume will produce spending about  Rp 123 trillion in the economy of this country. Season hometown travel for  Lebaran is categorized as the top result and the opportunity for KNCN’s campaign, he said.

In addition to speaking the numbers for counting, Minister Jero Wacik reminded again of how such a “corporate culture” introduced in the Ministry, citing the principle “Positive thinking”. “But it can also spread to the community, because it is necessary to be promoted, “he said.

Minister is campaigning on one of the 11 items ‘culture’ he recommended: Through a culture of positive talking, someone always looking and doing something useful not only for himself, but also for the interests of the people.

He said, cooperation between the various parties in the world of tourism
of Indonesia has the better done, for that he delivered appreciation. Appreciation and thanks to the cooperation and support given by the press, he repeated again on the occasion of meeting with press in mid of Septmeber in Jakarta .===

This is the English edition

Hallo, as of today September 27, 2009 this site begins to actually be the english edition of the Indonesian. Not necessarily each will present exactly the same originated newsstory, you may now have a selection of two: traveltourismindonesia.com or go to traveltourismindonesia.wordpress.com

As this is presently under transformation, you will see there are still original text of newsstory from the Indonesian edition. Some will gradually go into English.

If you have news or opinion s feedbacks for this site, please send or contact me.

Cheers.