Setyanto P. Santoso:
A Man Behind the PATA Conference

If there were one person who was feeling extremely proud to see 52nd PATA conference launched on Sunday 13th April in Nusa Dua, Bali, and which ended with great success, he may be Setyanto P. Santosa (58), the present Chairman of the National Committee of the 52nd PATA Conference 2003.
“I have been aware that the nomination of Bali as the site of the four-day conference is an appraisal, a show of confidence, and at the same time a challenge to the whole of tourism in Indonesia, especially this island’s community, who have put everything into ensuring the success of this event,” he said on the eve of the conference.
Mr. Setyanto from Gombong, Central Java currently holds the position of Executive Chairman of the Indonesian Culture and Tourism Board. For one month preceding the PATA gathering, he devoted much energy in coordination with officials and others to prove that Bali is secure, peaceful and comfortable.
He spoke of his activities with the Governor of Bali, Dewa Made Berata, Tourism Chief Gede Pitana, Ph.D., Chairman of PATA Chapter of Bali and Nusa Tenggara, Mr. Ida Bagus Ngurah Wijaya, and Mr. Ida Bagus Lolec of Pacific World Nusantara Travel Bureau.
When some quarters tabled a proposal that PATA delegates should have a medical report released by their respective countries with a consequence of deportation if they were suspected of having SARS, Setyanto responded to show carefully that such a prerequisite would be detrimental.
While remaining vigilant against the potential danger of SARS, “We should try to be a good host, and at the same time prove we are capable of arranging a safe and favorable international tourism event in security and favorably,” said Setyanto, who was an economic graduate of US Michigan State University in 1978. Rius

Komang Sarjana
Never Loses Hope

Komang Sarjana (34) in managing his ‘Warisan Retaurant’ has never lost hope due to his great creativity. He has persistently lured tourists to dine here during the economic crisis following the Black October Tragedy of 2002 and, more recently, while thinking over what to do vis-à-vis the Iraqi War.
He has never complained about bad conditions. Instead, the calm-looking Sarjana, who employs 40 workers, has his own way of solving problems by inviting hoteliers for promotional sales just to dine or drink. This develops both internal and external relations, while giving priority to employ locals.
In answering the question whether it could possibly be realized, he optimistically said, “Oh yes, I am just applying the principle ascertaining that man may try but God will decide.” Up to present, Komang Sarjana has remained a single man. He has worked with hotels like Melia (1995), Sedona Bintan Lagoon and Oberoi Lombok (1997), Aston Jakarta (1999 – 2001), and Hotel Maldives in the tiny country of Maldives in the Indian Ocean with its beautiful underwater scenery.(2001) (Budarsana)

Santika's Suryawan on Bali's Recovery

The General Manager of Santika Beach Hotel, Made Suryawan, concurrently chairman of Parasparos Club, has devoted much thought to what was expected to be a probable and proper recovery of Bali’s tourism following Bali’s Black October. The recovery plans and actions are now in their sixth month of practice but as yet no expected result has come to the fore, Suryawan told Bali Travel News recently. He proposes that an integral and coordinated action by government authorities and private businessmen is needed to bring about the recovery of tourism.
Many individual as well as group efforts have been made the sake of the recovery with the sacrifice of time, strength, mind, and money, only to end in failure and there has not yet been any obvious answer as to where Bali’s recovery has been going wrong.
Made Suryawan, responding to such a question stated nothing has in effect been wrong with the recovery of Bali, but he noted a lack of unity and co-ordination between government-to-government and government-to-tourism sector, as well as scarce funding. All these elements have much affected the possible recovery of Bali’s tourism.
A lack of unity has clearly been visible in technical execution outdoors as seen in crowds of people awaiting others to come. Suryawan has cited the example of institutions involved in tourism recovery in Bali, such as ministers, the tourism restoration institute, the governor, regents and the association of industries, organized in the Bali Tourism Board. All these institutions could make a unified and coordinated effort for the optimal realization of all the recovery programs so far in existence, at least in the eyes of Balinese community, Suryawan said, stressing the need for a central body to facilitate coordination among institutions.
Other topics Suryawan commented on relate to the global crisis affected by the US coalition attack against Iraq, and the SARS syndrome, which has spread to people in tourist destinations around the world. Thus, the matter has not related only to Bali’s Bombing Tragedy of 12 October 2002, but also to the global dilemma which exerts a great influence to the recovery of tourism on this island.
Governmental Role
Mr. Suryawan expects the government to play a bigger role in the recovery process in the future by overcoming a possible deeper downgrading of tourism in Bali by curbing some of the unwise competition that is arising due to the present condition of tourism. “We are waiting for a bigger governmental role in aiding the tourist industry, specifically in relations with hotels and travel agents with respect to deterring irregular price speculation,” the Parasparos chairman said critically, claiming that the government should stabilize prices which are now on the brink of war.
He finally noted that Bali at present need not hold a strong drive of to promote tourism in Bali internationally. Instead of it a secure consolidation would be a better choice to improve conditions for creating high sale values to Bali’s tourism, for instance by regulating sidewalk traders who often disturb tourists and cause traffic congestion. All these should be in order to create favorable condition for tourist vacations; Suryawan ended in his comment. (Poll)