The Government of Indonesia through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has set a target of 1 million foreign tourists to visit Indonesia in 2010. Yogyakarta Special Region Government intends to support the program. Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) and the Association of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants (PHRI) of Yogyakarta even hoped that the visit rate would increase this year. "We hope that in the year 2010, the number of foreign tourists will be similar to that in 1995, 350 thousands in total.
Despite the drop by 25% and in 2009 the number of foreign tourists was 200 thousands, we all expect that in the year 2010 it will increase at least to 250 thousands," said Drs. Istidjab M. Danunagoro, M.M. at UGM Main Office, Tuesday (18/5). The Yogyakarta PHRI Chairman said that during the signing of the cooperation between UGM, ASITA, and PHRI of the province. All of them agreed to extend the cooperation of Jogja Tourism Training Center (JTTC) establishment. He said, tourism stakeholders in the province are currently working to provide training for hotel and tourism staff to make them more professional and posses certificates to work abroad. This is in line with the policy of Singapore Government which has opened the possibility of foreign workers to work there. "We hope our human resources can meet foreign market requirement and able to work there," he added.
Meanwhile, Vice Rector of Alumni and Business Development Affairs of UGM, Prof. Ir. Atyanto Dharoko, M. Phil., Ph.D., supports the establishment of JTTC. He rated JTTC as excellent cooperation between tourism stakeholders, ASITA, PHRI, and academics in enhancing human resource capacity of tourism. "So, UGM who has the knowledge will be able to share optimally to synergize with several parties for the development of the nation. With JTTC, UGM is able to share in the development of human resources," he said.
He said that UGM has a prospect in terms of sending professional resources abroad. UGM is currently in talks with the Australian Embassy for sending professionals in construction, mining, farming, hospitals, and health fields. "Unfortunately, there are still none from the field of tourism. UGM is trying to be a center for sending professionals’ resources and one of the models of cooperation which is currently underway is with Ultratune Australia to provide workshop staff training. With this training, they are expected to have a certificate and able to work professionally there," he said.
Edwin Ismedi Himna, Chairman of ASITA of Yogyakarta hopes that if possible, courses that focus on tour and travel are established in UGM, because throughout the time, the studies about it are limited only to the academy. "I look forward to having it, who knows UGM will follow up on this need," he said.