Information, not condoms in hotels<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government has ruled out the suggestion of
\nproviding free condoms in every hotel room as part of its anti-
\nAIDS drive. Instead, it urged hotels to put leaflets on the
\ndanger of AIDS in every room.<\/p>\n
Director General of Tourism Andi Mappi Sameng said that while
\nfrom the medical point of view the use of condoms is good to
\nprevent the spread of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome,
\npromoting their use could send the wrong message to the public.<\/p>\n
"The idea of providing condoms in hotel rooms could give
\npeople the impression that the government is condoning
\nprostitution," he was quoted as saying by Antara on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The plan could also harm the image of the hotels, he added.<\/p>\n
"We've got to understand that our people have strong religious
\nand cultural values," he said, during a workshop on AIDS which
\nincluded government officials involved in the tourism industry.<\/p>\n
A better way to promote AIDS awareness is to provide
\ninformation, he said.<\/p>\n
Andi said that many people in Indonesia still believe that
\nforeign tourists brought AIDS to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"This perception is not entirely wrong, but it is not really
\naccurate either, because the virus spreads through sexual
\ncontacts, particularly among promiscuous people," he said.<\/p>\n
Similar workshops are being planned for executives and workers
\nin the industry, Andi said. (emb)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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