Indonesia is located on over 13,000 islands and has over 17 percent
of the earth’s species. Roughly and conservatively, Indonesia houses
about 11 percent of flowering plant species, 12 percent of the world’s
mammals, 17 percent of all birds, and at least 37 percent the world’s
fish.
Since its independence, the government of Indonesia has exploited
the natural resources of country to fuel “development”. Minerals and oil
are heavily extracted; forest have been cleared and cut down. The
development—which emphasizes very much on economic growth—has neglected
almost all aspects other than economic growth. Until the late 1980s, the
focus of the development had been on import substitution, and after
that on developing export oriented industries. Hence, development in
Indonesia means nothing more than industrialization. Moreover,
industrialization in Indonesia has been focused on manufacturing.
As stated in its long-term plan of development, Indonesia started
its development by boosting the agriculture to be self-sufficient in
food, and at the same time, establishing the foundations for
industrialization. After completing the phase of developing its
secondary (manufacturing) industry, the country moved forward to
tertiary (service) industry. Relying on this concept on the early 1990s,
Indonesia promoted the development of service industries. The most
prominent sector in this industry is tourism.
Tourism has played an important role in some provinces in Indonesia.
The province of Bali, for example, enjoyed revenues from tourism even
before the Government of Indonesia gave its attention to this sector. In
order to promote the tourism industry, the president established a
Ministry of Tourism, Post and Telecommunication in 1988, and set a
“Visit Indonesia Year 1990” program.
NATIONAL POLICY ON TOURISM
National policy on development of tourism is based on a long-term
plan of development. During the last 32 years, a centralized development
policy, including the tourism, was adopted. As a result, many provinces
of Indonesia were not optimally and equally developed. The growth of
tourism had been lower than that of neighboring countries in ASEAN, a
surprising fact when taking into account the richness of Indonesia‘s
“tourist attractions”.
Recent development shows increasing efforts by the central
government to work together with the local government to identify,
develop and promote potential tourist destinations other than Bali.
Along with the increasing awareness of nature protections, which will
attract special tourists to visit Indonesia, the government has also
introduced regulations on environment which are related to the sector of
tourism, such as:
1. The Decree of the Minister of the Environment, No. Kep-32A/MENLH/7/1995 regarding Proper Clean River Program (Prokasih);
2. The Decree of the Minister of the Environment, No:
Kep-52/MENLH/10/1995 on Standard Quality of Liquid Wastes for Hotel
Operations;
3. The Decree of the Head of Environment Control Institution (BAPEDAL),
No: Kep-32/BAPEDAL/05/1997 regarding Clean River Program, to require
hotels to install liquid waste management unit;
4. MOU between the Ministry of the Environment and Indonesian
Association of Hotels and Restaurants, No: 02/MENLH/12/1995 concerning
the Training and Monitoring of Environmental-friendly Hotels and
Restaurants
5. Programs on Evaluating the Achievements of Business Entities in implementation of Clean River Program.
Implementations of those regulations include the effort to apply
environmentally friendly standards for the operations of hotels in
Indonesia. The government has planned to include hotels in point 5
above, which include the evaluation of environmental management with the
use of rating through colored labels starting in 1998, as follows:
• Gold labels are given to hotels which have achieved the level of zero emission;
• Green labels are provided to hotels which have adopted clean technology or minimizing environmental impacts;
• Blue labels are produced for hotels which are abiding the current regulations on environmental control;
• Red label is for a hotel which has tried to adopt, but failed to meet the requirements of the regulations on environment;
• Black labels are for hotels that do not try to abide the regulations on environment, and even damaging the environment.
One effort of the government to prevent pollution is by providing
incentives through the Program of Soft Loan for Environment from
Overseas Economic Corporation Funds on Pollution Abatement Equipment.
This program is designed to encourage the installation of pollution
management units in some businesses of which the operations are
potentially damaging the environment. The soft loan with a period of 3
to 20 years is expected to answer the problems of high cost of
investments in waste processing units faced by domestic investors.
MORE ON TOURISM POLICIES and THEIR BENEFITS TO THE INDONESIAN ECONOMY
After several years, private tourism sectors as well as the
government, realized that the development of tourism in this country is
not only beneficial but has also its negative impact, such as:
environmental degradation, economic gap between those related to the
tourism business and those who are not, cultural degradation, etc.
Massive development of high rise hotels, roads and infrastructures,
along with changing use of the land, etc. for the purpose of tourism,
have resulted the serious degradation of the environment. Some of these
impacts will be described in the case studies.
As tourism developed, profit-seeking investors have come. Their
fresh capital enabled them to own most of the resources, and eventually
expel the local community from their own land. This left them with
choices of either stay as farmers in less-fertile and smaller size of
lands, or taking other jobs such as small merchants, providing services
to the tourism activities, etc
As will be described in the case of Bali, the pressures of capital
have affected not only Bali’s economy, but also its culture.
Under the pressure of Indonesian NGOs, informal leaders, religious
leaders and other concerned people, the government of Indonesia has
started to change its policies on tourism. The government has put its
best efforts in promoting people-centered tourism and ecologically
friendly tourism.
Unlike the previous ones, the new policies provide more
opportunities for the local people to participate in the tourism
development. Under the "tourism build prosperity and peace" theme, the
Government of Indonesia empowers small and medium scale entrepreneurs
and cooperatives in tourism sector, encourages private--especially the
small and medium ones, deregulates licensing process for eliminating
high-cost economy, and implements community based tourism.
Environmentally friendly tourism, or eco-tourism, has been adopted
in in the last five years. It, as a mater of fact, has not been a
mainstream in the tourism development. Only some areas--consist of
national parks, rivers, and forests--are designated to be used for
eco-tourism. In developing eco-tourism. It is understood that
eco-tourism should make requirements of nature and environmental
protection the basis for touristic activities. Thus, it ensures its
ecological sustainability.
TOURISM IN BALI ISLAND
Compared to the total area of Indonesia, Bali represents only 0.29%.
Based on 1997’s data, the total population of Bali is about 3.3
million, with a population density of almost 585 person/sq.km. However,
Bali ranks as the first in terms of popularity among tourist-destination
areas in Indonesia. Tourism in Bali had started since 1926 with the
exploitation of the unique Balinese cultural and natural beauty by the
Dutch colonial government. The government of Indonesia started in 1960
with the building of the Bali Beach Hotel in Sanur and the Ngurah Rai
international airport.
Bali is internationally known for its dances, temples, and beaches,
which have long been recognized as main tourist attractions. In 1996
BaIi attracted a total number of around 3 million tourists, or about 30%
of the total number of foreign tourists coming to Indonesia. The trend
shows an escalating number over several years. The increase is supported
by the infrastructures and facilities.: more than 25,000 hotel rooms of
various qualities, international airport which can accommodate large
airplanes, ports and more than about 500 thousands Balinese involved in
tourism activities.
Despite the deterioration of Indonesian politics and economy, Bali
is still perceived as a very safe and nice place to visit. Bali enjoys
the ever increasing number of visitors whom each stays the average of 9
days, with an average spending of about USD 80 per day. Bali is indeed
the only tourist destination in Indonesia that is still recommended by
the government of Japan, USA, Australia and other European countries.
Other areas in Indonesia still suffer significant drop due to the
recession and partly to travel bans set by foreign countries. On the
contrary, Balinese merchants, brokers, etc. have gained profit from the
condition. Tourism industry in Bali still enables Balinese to sustain
their consumptive lifestyle.
The development of tourism industry has played an important role in
Bali’s economy due to its limited natural resources. An important
indicator of the growth in revenue is the income per capita which has
been increasing since 1994 of Rp. 2,22 million, Rp. 2,56 million (1995),
and Rp. 2,95 million (1996), with several tourist destination areas as
the highest per capita income.
An indirect impact from the growth is the relatively high population
growth rate in these areas compared to other areas. The urbanization as
well as migrant workers from other provinces have caused high growth
rate of population which affect natural environment, social, economic
and cultural life of the Balinese.
The tourism development plan of Bali is based on two regulations
i.e. (1) The Decree of the Governor of Bali No. 528 / 1993 regarding
Tourism Area; (2) The Decree of the Local Government No. 4 / 1996
regarding Spatial Planning for the Province of Bali.
The objectives of the above regulations are: (1) To provide guidance
for the optimum use of space at tourist destination areas, especially in
less developed areas; (2) To reduce the negative impacts of tourism
activities on the sustainability of the environment
The strategies on the above are based on the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana that includes:
• Strategy of managing sanctuaries;
• Development of agricultural areas and regional infrastructures;
• Development of urban and other priority areas.
1. Social and Cultural
Aside from its benefits, the growth of tourism in Bali has some
negative impacts, particularly in the social and the cultural
dimensions. The Balinese culture has changed due to commercial
influences, people alienation from their own land, market orientation of
artworks. Among them are:
Tourism has created income opportunities. Unfortunately, young
generations have failed to exercise religious and/or ethical values to
generate income; Cases of young people involved in various types of
prostitution are common in several popular tourist destination areas.
There are street souvenir vendors who sell their merchandise in such
ways that annoy the customers, while some others put very high price on
the low quality merchandise. These will create the negative image of
Bali as a safe and enjoyable tourist destination.
Expecting more money, some local people who do not have necessary
skills take shortcuts to wealth which, in most cases, are not morally
acceptable.
There are also cases where the local community has been alienated
from their own village. The flow of investments on hotels along the
beach has driven local community out of their lands and even beaches.
Beaches are essential to the Balinese, for their religious believe to
the Sang Hyang Widi Wasa. Land, sea, and mountain are perceived as one
unity. As some beaches are converted into private areas, Balinese are
alienated from their own values and can no longer perform their rituals.
Other main tourist attractions are dances, paintings and
sculptures. These art forms have generated a lot of income from the rise
of tourist visit to Bali. However, the products of these art forms have
been adjusted according to the taste of the market. This resulted in
popular market products rather than high quality of art itself.
Sculptures, dances, and other art products are originally--for
Balinese--for ritual and religious purposes. However, thanks to the
market pressure, they are turned into commercial commodities.
2. Economic Perspective
The Tourism industry -- including transportation, hotel, hospitality,
and travelling services -- is the biggest industry in Bali that provides
quality employment opportunities for the Balinese, and is still one of
the fastest growing sectors in the Island. Employment opportunities have
been provided by small businesses especially in the home industry,
supporting the tourism activities. Many of them are located in the urban
areas. Considering the economic crises suffered by the country, it is
projected that the growth of the industry in Bali will not exceed that
of 1997/98.
Tourism industry is expected to contribute a major portion of GDP in
foreign exchange, which is very much needed at this moment, and to
provide 2.6 million, 2.8 million, and 3.4 million employment
opportunities in 1996, 1997, and 1998 respectively. The figures above
have shown the important role of tourism in Bali’s economy. Most of
Balinese are economically depend on the tourism directly or indirectly.
During the political riots in several major cities of Indonesia,
considered as the safest place to stay, hotels in Bali were fully
booked. The government of Bali also benefited from this situation,
specifically from income tax and local retributions.
Tourism industry has played an important factor to boost exports.
Foreign tourists spend their foreign exchange directly by buying
products of the visited country. About 14% of the total value of
Indonesian export are generated from tourism. The transactions are
directly between tourists and merchants.
Another important impact of the tourism in Bali is that it generates a
multiplying effect. The growth of tourism will enable other sectors such
as construction and manufacturing to grow as well. In 1997, there were
61 new investments in tourist destination developments in Bali alone.
3. Environment Perspective
The increasing activities in tourism have resulted in some negative impacts on the environment, e.g.:
• Ground water
The significant increase of water consumption for daily activities as
well as for recreational purposes, such as swimming pools. Many hotels
in Bali are forced to provide their own sources of clean water because
the limited access to the local water companies (30% of the current
needs). These hotels have turned into ground water extraction, amounting
to about 46% of their needs, to supply their needs for clean water. The
extensive use of ground water may decrease the ground water reserve in
the long run, and induce the absorption of seawater (intrusion) even
further.
• Liquid wastes
Based on review done by the government on some hotels in Bali, about 63
% have installed a liquid waste management unit, while the rest still
use the absorption methods. A conventional system on liquid waste
management (absorption) has grown businesses for providing the service
of hauling human wastes. Their service seems to solve the problem of
liquid waste of the hotels. However, the lack of regulation on waste
management, has excused the private haulers to pour liquid wastes
directly into the sea and rivers. Thus creating a higher potential
damage to the environment. The regulations also failed to set parameters
on some factors, such as content of oil/fat, NO3-N, Phosphors, Faecal
Colii, etc. in the ambient water.
• Solid wastes
Most hotel operators in Bali are using private hauler in maintaining
their solid wastes. These private haulers are responsible to collect,
transport and dispose the wastes. Wastes from the hotel kitchen are
often used to create compost and feed for pigs. Some hotels have also
worked together with private sectors to recycle some wastes like papers,
glass bottles, etc. There are also cases, however, of some
irresponsible private haulers disposing the solid wastes in places other
than the designed area, as seen in some parts of the coastal areas.
• Noise and fuel emission
As there is a sharp increase of tourists coming to Bali, direct impacts
including noise resulted from airplanes to and out of the province.
Inland transportation within the province has resulted in pollution.
There are also cases where some dwellings around hotel areas are
affected by fuel gas emission that comes from incinerators and electric
generators.
• Eradication of Landscape and ecosystem
Lands conversion for tourism are common in Bali. A rocky hill which is
rich of natural flora and fauna was “developed” into golf field; some
others are cut to build boulevards and bungalows. This conversion leads
to the extinction of Bali’s natural flora and fauna, such as the famous
indigenous bird called Jalak Bali.
For the last six years the production of wastes and garbage, as well as
depletion of environment and its flora and fauna, from tourism related
activities tend to increase up to 25% per annum. These, if not properly
maintained, may pollute the environment especially in popular tourist
areas and its surroundings. To handle such potential problems, Bali
needs to improve its policies and control system regarding the
environment management.
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN LOMBOK ISLAND
I. Existing Conditions of Tourism Sector
The Island of Lombok is located next to Bali. Lombok is currently
considered as a very potential tourist destination area after Bali. It
is part of the province of West Nusa Tenggara Barat. With a total
population of 2.6 millions for the whole province, of which about 6 % is
employed in tourism sectors, tourism activities has contributed an
amount about US$ 106 millions, or about 25% of the local GDP. In 1997 a
total number of about 200 thousands tourists originating from America,
Europe, Asean, and Asia Pacific visited Lombok.
As also in Bali, tourism activities in Lombok Island have created
opportunities to generate income. Aside from hotels and restaurants,
there are several art or souvenir shops introducing specific art
products from West Nusa Tenggara which is quite different from that of
the Balinese: hand-woven Ikat, clay works, pandan weavings, primitive
wood sculptures, etc. With its unspoiled land and diversity of religious
and cultural values, West Nusa Tenggara offers a unique natural as well
as cultural attraction.
2. Policy and Strategy of Local Government
As a tourism destination next to Bali, the local government has
encouraged the involvement of private sector, community, and cooperative
in developing tourism. This effort included the development of
infrastructures to support the tourism, and, especially, the improvement
of the quality and capability of the local work force.
With properly planned actions, the government of NTB expected the
growth of tourism to increase 15% per annum. This means about 500,000
employment, and about USD 115 millions generated annually at the end of
1998, from about 309,000 tourist.
In an effort to develop tourism, the government of West Nusa Tenggara
has established a joint venture company with the private sector called
the Lombok Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC). The plan of this
cooperation is to develop tourism facilities in a total area of 1,250 ha
which consists of hotels, golf course, business center, and other
tourism facilities.
However, learning from tourism in Bali, the government will prevent
negative impact from tourism activities. They have anticipated that
problems like wastes, over investment, land acquisition, illegal
buildings, environmental degradation, privatization of beaches which
created less access for fishermen and public, as well as social and
cultural impacts that may appear as the tourism developed.
3. Social Perspective
Lombok has natural beauty that can be developed as tourism resort. As
the island located near Bali-a major tourist destination, Lombok has the
advantage to be the second tourist destination to catch the overflow of
tourists from Bali. The provincial government of NTB understand very
well the strategic position of Lombok and it includes tourism as a
leading sector in the provincial development. Tourism in Lombok has
provided 6.09% of total employment opportunity in that area. However,
the number is much lower than the available graduates of tourism
schools, as well as the expectations of the government to provide
employment for local community around tourist destination areas. The
development of tourism has also shifted employment opportunities from
agricultural to tourism related activities.
Efforts, which have been done by the government, include
facilitating training to improve the quality of local handicrafts in
order to enable them to compete and to reach a much larger market share.
The consideration of empowering the surrounding community is
particularly important, because of the current gap between quality of
local human resources compared to those from other parts of Indonesia.
If left unanswered, this will lead to economic, and thus, social gap
between the local community and migrants.
However, negative impact of the development of tourism is not hard to
see. More and more people have moved, either voluntarily or not, for the
reason of developing tourist resorts such as the case of Ms.Inaq Ameneh
of Gili Trawangan[1].
2. Economic Perspective
The natural resources of Lombok island has attracted a lot of
investors--domestic as well as foreign ones--in establishing tourism
related industries: hotels, resorts, travel agents, restaurants, etc.
Based on data collected, there are domestic investments amounting to Rp.
362 billion and foreign investments amounting to USD 2.57 million in
hotels, restaurants, etc. It is also expected that these investments
could lead to other activities beneficial to the local community
surrounding them. The multiplying effect of the growing tourism sector
has been expected to happen in Lombok.
3. Environment Perspective
The local government of West Nusa Tenggara has taken some preventive
measures based on the negative experience of Bali, such as the
degradation of quality and quantity of natural resources, as well as the
impacts on the local community.
However, with a current economic condition of the area (i.e. population
of almost 4 million, income per capita of Rp. 1.8 million--less than
55% of its neighboring Bali--and limited amount of local revenue of the
government), it seems that the government of West Nusa Tenggara is
facing a difficult choice between maintaining the quality of the land
and a fast way to increase economic conditions of the region. Stringent
regulations on investments will create the impression of West Nusa
Tenggara as an unattractive investment area, especially in a worsening
condition of Indonesia in foreign investor’s view.
One example is the opening of a gold mine in Sumbawa. A foreign joint
venture called Newmont has recently established its open mining area
there. With an increase of expatriates in the project, it is expected to
boost local economic activities (including tourism) as well as
employment opportunities for the local community. The available jobs for
local community is mostly for the unskilled ones, although in quite a
big number. The open mining system, however, is considered as degrading
the quality of land.
