$1.6b in commitments for tourist projects

JAKARTA (JP): Total investment commitments for tourist-related projects approved by the government from January to May this year were worth $1.67 billion, according to the latest monthly report from the Ministry of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications.

The report said that the commitments comprise 23 foreign investment projects worth $278.14 million and 88 domestically funded projects worth Rp 3.27 trillion ($1.4 billion).

The 23 projects involving foreign investment included 15 hotels worth $273.1 million, four recreational projects worth $2.54 million, two travel agencies worth $500,000 and two tourism service ventures worth $2 million.

The 88 domestic investment commitments approved by the government include 358 hotels worth Rp 2.61 trillion, 26 recreational projects worth Rp 595.11 billion and 24 travel agencies worth Rp 7.56 billion.

The report said that by May 1996 there existed, or would soon exist, 8,674 hotels in Indonesia with 194,551 rooms. Of the total hotels, 710 were star-rated with 67,562 rooms and 7,964 hotels containing 126,989 rooms had no star rating.

It also said that there were 15,107 hotel rooms in Jakarta with an average occupancy rate of 57.5 percent from January to April this year.

The hotel occupancy rates in Jakarta decreased steadily from 67.19 percent in February, to 51.83 percent in March and to 50.11 percent in April. (icn)