Tourism Development in Indonesia : Surakarta City Role Supporting National Tourism Planning

Abstract

The tourism sector in Indonesia is considered a priority sector as in 2015, the tourism sector became the highest presentation in ASEAN for the contributor to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) constituting 10%. Based on the Long-Term National Tourist Development Plan for 2010-2025, the Indonesian government had been selected as many as 50 tourism destinations nationwide to be developed by 2025. Indonesia also has a broad diversity of cultural values to be the main tourist attraction. The optimism is raised as cultural-based tourism will continue to expand in the future. Cultural-based tourism could be seen as a local area development driver, although the human factor is still considered the key role. Knowledge, skills, motivations, and collaboration are the main factors. In addition, it is also important to highlight not individual offers, but the region as a whole connecting different tourism spots. Surakarta City offers several attractions for its tourism both tangible and intangible divided into different themes such as historical; cultural; natural, entertainment, and recreation; religious; handy craft art; transportation; shopping; and culinary. Regarding the potential possessed by the city, education tourists and individual mass tourists should be considered the most suitable target markets and additionally, the related tourism products and services to be applied aiming to support Indonesia's tourism planning.