Hidayat optimistic on RI's tourism targets<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister for Tourism and the Arts Hidayat
\nJaelani is confident that Indonesia will meet its tourism target
\nof 5.1 million foreign visitors and $5 billion in income this
\nyear, with some help from Chinese tourists.<\/p>\n
Hidayat pointed out that the number of foreigners arriving at
\nIndonesia's 13 entry points reached 1.59 million between January
\nand May, up from 1.55 million in the same period last year,
\nAntara reported.<\/p>\n
He also underlined a new tourism cooperation agreement between
\nIndonesia and China which he said should bolster the number of
\ntourist arrivals into this country.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has eased visa application procedures for visitors
\nfrom China, and is now negotiating with Beijing for a visa-free
\nfacility on a reciprocal basis.<\/p>\n
If the tourist arrivals target is achieved, it would almost
\nrestore Indonesia's tourism industry to the levels prevailing
\nprior to the 1997 financial crisis.<\/p>\n
The number of visitor arrivals reached a record 5.18 million
\nin 1997 before it fell to 4.61 million in 1998. The figure
\nrecovered to 4.73 million visitors last year.<\/p>\n
In terms of revenue, tourism brought in $5.3 billion in 1997,
\n$4.3 billion in 1998 and $4.7 billion in 1999.<\/p>\n
Hidayat said his office was striving to make tourism the
\nprofitable business it was in 1996 when it earned a record $6.3
\nbillion from the 5.03 million foreigners who visited Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The 13 points of entry into Indonesia consist of airports in
\nJakarta, Bali, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, East Java, Central
\nJava, West Nusa Tenggara, North Sulawesi, and South Sulawesi; sea
\nports in Batam, Jakarta, and Riau; and a land-border crossing in
\nEntikong, West Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Also expected to bolster the number of tourist arrivals in the
\ncoming years is the government's plan to expand the number of
\ncountries eligible for visa-free facilities, Hidayat said.<\/p>\n
He disclosed that at least 20 countries will be added to the
\nexisting list of 48 countries whose residents receive a visa on
\narrival when they visit Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Countries benefiting from this visa-free facility include the
\nUnited States, Australia, the Netherlands, Britain, Japan,
\nIreland, Germany, Kuwait, Malaysia, Singapore, Egypt, Mexico,
\nFrance, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Greece, and Hong
\nKong.<\/p>\n
Hidayat acknowledged that the plan to expand the facility ran
\ninto some opposition from within the government based upon the
\nargument that Indonesia would lose $50 million in visa fees a
\nyear.<\/p>\n
But he pointed out that Indonesia could gain an additional $2
\nbillion in revenues each year through accommodation, souvenirs,
\nand tourist facilities if it expanded the privilege to more
\ncountries. (10)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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