Tourism board denies report on financial problems<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Tourism Promotion Board (BPPI), a private
\nagency promoting the country's tourist industry, has denied it
\nhas financial problems.<\/p>\n
Tanri Abeng, the board's chairman, said Monday the board's
\nfinances were not too bad because its assets were worth more than
\nits liabilities.<\/p>\n
\"The board is not bankrupt because the money that BPPI has is
\nmore than its debts,\" he told reporters without elaborating.<\/p>\n
The board told House Commission V late last year that it was
\nabout US$15 million in debt.<\/p>\n
According to a presidential decree issued in 1993, some
\ndevelopment taxes collected from hotels and restaurants by
\nprovincial administrations should go to the Ministry of Tourism,
\nPost and Telecommunications to be transferred to the board.<\/p>\n
But provincial administrations seem to have failed to collect
\ndevelopment taxes and this may bankrupt the board.<\/p>\n
Besides funds from provincial administrations, the board
\nraises money through cooperation with private companies.<\/p>\n
Wuryastuti Sunaryo, the board's managing director, said the
\nboard had collected Rp 2.45 billion in cash from private parties
\nin the 1996\/1997 fiscal year.<\/p>\n
She said Rp 1 billion (US$423 million) came from PT Dewata
\nAgung Wibawa, a subsidiary of Mayapadha group which runs a duty-
\nfree shop in Bali, Rp 1 billion was from PT Inti Dufree
\nPromosindo, another subsidiary of Mayapadha group, Rp 350 million
\nwas from PT Multi Bintang Indonesia and Rp 100 million was from
\nPT Indo Multi Media.<\/p>\n
The documents for the handover of this money were signed
\nMonday before Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications
\nJoop Ave, Director General for Tourism Andi Mappi Sammeng and the
\nministry's secretary-general, Jonathan Parapak.<\/p>\n
She said that in the 1995\/1996 fiscal year the board received
\nRp 300 million from private parties and in 1994\/1995 it received
\nat least Rp 2.7 billion.<\/p>\n
She said private parties would contribute about Rp 7.03
\nbillion worth of goods and services to the board in 1996\/1997.<\/p>\n
In 1995\/1996 the body received about Rp 4.9 billion worth of
\nfree goods and services and about Rp 7.01 billion in 1994\/1995.<\/p>\n
She said the board needed at least $25 million for promotions
\nin the 1996\/1997 fiscal year, up from $20 million in 1995\/1996.
\n(09)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tourism-board-denies-report-on-financial-problems-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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