The government is optimistically hoping to attract 5.5 million overseas tourists next year on intensified promotion despite only 4.8 million tourists visiting Indonesia this year. "We had 5.3 million tourists in 2004, after having negative growth for two consecutive years in 2002 and 2003. So, I'm optimistic that the 2007 target will be attainable," Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said during a media briefing Wednesday.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Investment in Indonesia has sharply decreased this year compared to last year. According to the Head of the Association of Indonesian Entrepreneurs, Sofjan Wanandi, local investment in 2006 dropped 37 percent compared to the previous year. Foreign investment also decreased to 45 percent. Sofjan said the causes of the decrease include tax settlement, labor, the infrastructure, illegal levies and legal certainty.