problem in developing tourism ssector of east nusa tenggara

Tourism is a rapidly growing phenomenon and has become one of the largest industries in the world. Tourism has long been viewed as a tool for economic development. It plays an important and certainly positive role in the socio-economic and political development in destination countries by, for instance, offering new employment opportunities. Also, in certain instances, it may contribute to a broader cultural understanding by creating awareness, respecting the diversity of cultures and ways of life. Tourism is a powerful agent of change.

In order to develop tourism sector is not easy anyway. There are challenges and problems go within our efforts to make it happen; an advanced region in tourism sector. East Nusa Tenggara is one of provinces in Indonesia that has so many sources of tourism objects that can help this province to develop since the tourism objects could grow up the economic sector of the province.

In fact, East Nusa Tenggara is still left behind in tourism sector, compared with other provinces in Indonesia. How could this happen since this province is fuelled with many potential sources of tourism, such as the beaches, lakes, mountains, dances, songs, and others. What make this happen? What are the problems in developing our tourism sector?

In every occasion, many people will argue that one of obstacles is the problem of infrastructure. This is true since we can find poor infrastructure in most tourism destinations in East Nusa Tenggara, even there are some which do not have any. Government seems not to pay attention to solve this problem

If we have no classified and qualified facilities in every tourism objects that we have, of course we could not promote this province outside. No promotion means progress created in our tourism sector is low. And it also means that the economic sector will not grow maximally. The relation is that there will be no income from foreign tourists or tourists from other regions in Indonesia since there are no promotions.

Transportation, accommodations, communication, electricity, sanitation and others are aspects which slow down the development of East Nusa Tenggara tourism sector. And these aspects must be taken care by the government especially for the Provincial Tourism Department of East Nusa Tenggara.

Local government must pay attention to tourism objects in their region. By doing so, the job of Provincial Tourism Department will be easier. Shortly, all governments, whether provincial, regional, or even city have to have same notes which are focused in developing East Nusa Tenggara tourism sector. They have to work together toward the same goal; it is to make good progress in East Nusa Tenggara tourism sector.

Fund is very important in developing tourism sector. We need more fund in order to promote our tourism objects and also to build infrastructures that support our tourism object. We also need fund in order to pay the treatment cost of the facilities and also the salary of people who taking care of the facilities.

We realize that fund is so vital in developing our tourism sector. But, what does our government do with Regional Budget? The fact is that the regional budget is not spent on this sector. More budgets are spent to other sectors.

The government should invest budget on constructing the infrastructure that support its tourism objects. By doing so, more people will enjoy the objects and trust them as a place to spend their vacation. Furthermore, if those objects are trusted by domestics, more promotion will attract foreign tourists.

Government could not hope for instant result from the investment they have done. They have to be patient because the economic benefits might be got years ahead. With easier transportation access, suitable accommodation, great sanitation, and easy and comfortable communication will attract tourists to visit that objects.

We have to acknowledge that we have poor transportation whether on air transportation, land transportation and sea transportation. This is our serious problem. Also poor sanitation that we have in most tourism objects in our region. We also need to increase the quality of accommodation. The last is hospitality aspect must be included in our regional tourism conservation concepts.

Locals Behaviour

In many cases occur in East Nusa Tenggara, infrastructures, which have been built by government, are broken by the locals. They scratching, breaking, and stealing the parts of facilities that have been built. They do not realize that those actions will give bad impacts on their own selves. There will be no tourists to visit their place because of the poor facilities they have.

Government of East Nusa Tenggara should give advices to locals so they could understand the importance of their tourism objects and the advantages it gives. Not only that, the government should tell the locals that they also take part in this mission. They are needed here to develop their region by this tourism sector.

Landscape and Isolated Villages

East Nusa Tenggara province has very unique landscape. Some parts of it are mountains, valleys, savannahs, and rockery. One important sector of tourism objects in East Nusa Tenggara is the natural tourism object. It provides beautiful views which are suitable for tourists. It helps tourists to get fresh air, escape from world’s problems, and refresh their mind.

This can bring advantage, but in other hand, it becomes a challenge for government when they have to build suitable infrastructures in those far and isolated places.

The way access makes government to spend more efforts in developing the infrastructures in that objects of tourism. Again, budget is needed here. This need of budget sometimes; most often, let government down at first and does not want to try to develop the objects by constructing supporting infrastructures which are needed.

In order to solve this problem, the government needs to create good relation with the locals so that they might help the government in constructing the infrastructures. Government also needs to find helps from other sources (agents) who are qualified in developing those sectors. The last that the government have to do is never give up. Because even if they are facing obstacles ahead, there will find advantages after the obstacle. And we know that the obstacles take time to be solved.

Low Promoting Actions

Tourism packets should be in more attractive one so that the packets can attract more tourists. Tourism sector in East Nusa Tenggara is hoped to be one of economic motors which can provides more livelihood for people of East Nusa Tenggara. Until now, promotions of East Nusa Tenggara tourism objects are still not enough. The agents have done little efforts in doing the promotions.

Realizing that, we need to find more options in order to promote our tourism objects. We may go through the electronic promotions in this case is internet services and other ways; explorations, exploitations, development and empowerment on the actions of natural tourism, cultural tourism and marine tourism. These efforts are absolutely needed in developing our tourism sector.

Those problems above are our problems at all. We need to work together in order to solve these problems, so that we can create better province of East Nusa Tenggara, especially on our tourism sector. Let us do our jobs.

Thank you,