Educating the Public on Tourism

Leading Indonesian Educator Claims Indonesian Tourism is Uncoordinated due to a General Lack of Understanding of How the Tourism Industry Works

(3/22/2013) 

Tourism in Indonesia was likened to a “sound system without a operator” by the chairman of the Ambarrukmo Tourism Academy (Stipram), Suhendroyono, during commencement exercises held in Yogyakarta, Central Java, on Wednesday, March 20, 2013.

Quoted by Kompas.com, Suhendroyono said that tourism in Indonesia has a huge potential to provide a benefit to the people.

The failure of tourism to improve the welfare of the people, according to Suhendroyono, is because the industry leaders do not understand the tourism marketplace; have failed to analyze tourism’s potential; and, in the end, failed to coordinate efforts between different sectors.

“Indonesia tourism has great potential, but because there is little understanding on how to develop that potential, we continue to fail. By thoroughly understanding tourism- the government, investors, business people and the public can then analyze the true potential of tourism and package tourism products to their best potential.” Suhendroyono explained.

To enhance the public’s understanding of tourism, Suhendroyono suggests that tourism studies should form part of the academic curriculum starting from grade school.

If the science of tourism is taught from the earliest levels, he argues, people will understand how tourism works and all parties will be able to work together to explore the industries potential and make Indonesian internationally competitive with other destinations.

“What’s more,” he said, “the science of tourism always present positive aspects of society such as culture, tradition, peace, morality and environmentalism. Because of this, its not only a raised understanding of tourism that will result through education, but also character building.”

Source: BaliDiscovery.com