TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of Industrial Development for Accor Group Hotels Rio Kondo, said that Accor would continue to expand in Indonesia as the country’s tourism industry grows. The Accor Group, which oversees hotels such as the Pullman, Mercure, Novotel, Ibis and Sofitel chains, has opened 73 new hotels across Indonesia.

"We try to support the government's tourism program by providing hotel facilities in tourist areas. Now we have hotels across 24 cities in Indonesia," said Rio in his report in the Indonesia Tourism Outlook and Challenge 2014, in Jakarta on Thursday, February 6, 2014.

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Mari Elka Pangestu, stated that the hotel business is still the primary source of the national tourism income.

"Hotels still contribute the largest for the income followed by restaurants and entertainment. This makes sense because of the high investment value in hotels," she said.

In 2013, 8.8 million tourists visited Indonesia, a number almost 10 percent higher compared to the number recorded in 2012. The total income from the tourism sector is approximately US$10.5 billion.

According to Rio, the yearly growth of the hotel industry has reached 20 percent in the last two years at least, with the high number of tourists making Indonesia a great opportunity.

"We have 10 hotel brands. This is our commitment to support tourism," he said.

The Accor Group is currently building 71 new hotels which are targeted for completion in 2015 which covers 10 cities. By 2015, the hotels under the Accor Group flag will span across 34 cities in 2015. The increasing number of mid-class market reaches 90 million people until 2030. Rio thinks that it is a good prospect for the tourism industry.

NURUL MAHMUDAH