Government names 2002 year of ecotourism<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government has declared 2002 as national \"Ecotourism Year\" in
\nan effort to put some life back into the country's tourism
\nsector.<\/p>\n
A statement issued on Tuesday following a meeting of senior
\neconomic ministers led by Coordinating Minister for the Economy
\nDorodjatun Kuntjoro-Tjakti said that \"the meeting agrees that
\nEcotourism Year should be a mutual priority for all ministries
\nand government agencies.\"<\/p>\n
All activities must be based on public participation and
\npromotion must involve non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as
\npartners, the statement said.<\/p>\n
The World Tourism Organization (WTO) had earlier declared 2002
\nas the International Year of Ecotourism.<\/p>\n
A summit on world ecotourism will be held in Canada in May
\nthis year.<\/p>\n
The government statement said that the development of tourism
\nwould be focused on tourist destinations that had easy access to
\nairports, seaports and transportation networks.<\/p>\n
It would also focus on high-density destinations so as to
\nincrease the country's competitiveness in luring international
\nvisitors, the statement added.<\/p>\n
Minister of Tourism and Culture I Gde Ardika said during the
\nmeeting said that Indonesia would take advantage of the campaign
\nto develop ecotourism in the country.<\/p>\n
Ardika said that the government would avail of the ministerial
\nmeeting of the World Summit on Sustainable Development slated to
\nbe held from May 27 to June 6 in Jakarta to promote ecotourism in
\nthe country.<\/p>\n
\"At least 6,000 representatives from governments and non-
\ngovernmental organizations from all over the world will attend
\nthe summit. Jakarta has to prepare ecotourism destinations and
\nother tourism facilities,\" he said.<\/p>\n
It would help sell our tourism package, he added.<\/p>\n
Tourism has always been one of Indonesia's major revenue
\nsources.<\/p>\n
According to Ardika, although last year's 5.2 million visitors
\nfell short of the targeted 5.4 million, the country nevertheless
\nearned US$5.4 billion in foreign exchange.<\/p>\n
This exceeded the target of $5.2 billion.<\/p>\n
The slump in the tourism sector was the result of a number of
\nfactors, including the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the World
\nTrade Center in New York.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-names-2002-year-of-ecotourism-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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