JAKARTA ~

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has launched 17 tourism business certification institutions (LSU) toward the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015.

“The 17 LSU in tourism sector are expected to encourage the compliance of business standards and improve the quality of service businesses, while enhancing the competitiveness of the national tourism industry,” Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Mari Elka Pangestu stated here on Wednesday.

The presence of LSU is the implementation of Law No. 10/2009 on Tourism, which requires products, services, and management of tourism businesses to have a standard.

According to the minister, the professionalism of the tourism industry is very important to optimize Indonesia’s great potential in this sector.

“The presence of LSU is very strategic in the middle of competitive business opportunities, in particular to improve the competitiveness of the tourism sector ahead of the AEC,” she said.

Currently, there are 24 standards for tourism businesses, such as hotels, travel agencies, restaurants, karaoke, leisure parks, dive tourism, tourist information, spa, and tourism consultants of 56 standard types of tourism businesses.

The ministry has set a target that 4 more business standards will be launched by the end of September 2014 for villa, sailboats, arena games, and golf courses.

The 17 LSU were launched and confirmed by the ministry upon the recommendation of the Enterprises Authorization Commission, comprising 16 members from among practitioners, academicians, tourism organizations, including a number of officials from the ministry.

Of the 17 LSU, 16 are based in Java and one in Bali. The ministry has encouraged the establishment of additional LSU in the region in the future to reduce the high cost of certification.

The 17 LSU are Sucofinfo International Certification Service, Sai Global Indonesia, Mutu Indonesia Strategis Berkelanjutan, Sertifindo Wisata Utama, Karsa Bhakti Persada, Megah Tri tunggal Mulia, Tribina Jasa Wisata, and Graha Bina Nayaka.

In addition, there are El John Prima Indonesia, Adi Karya Wisata, Indonesia Certification Service Management, Sertifikasi Usaha Pariwisata Indonesia, Bhakti Mandiri Wisata Indonesia, Tuv Rheinland Indonesia, Mutuagung Lestari, Enhai Mandiri 186, and dan Sertifikasi Usaha Pariwisata Nasional.