5,000 Japanese tourists to visit RI

JAKARTA (JP): The Nagoya-based World Connection Corp. Ltd. will arrange the visits of some 5,000 Japanese tourists to Bali and Yogyakarta between September and December this year in cooperation with an Indonesian company.

Under a contract agreement signed here yesterday by Satoru Takeo, a director of World Connection, and the general manager of the Jakarta-based Satriavi Tours & Travel, Johny Sundah, Satriavi has become the firms exclusive handling agent in Indonesia.

Takeo said that the tourists, who are residents of Chubu, will occupy 2,000 rooms a night during their vacation.

Satriavi, established in 1974, is an affiliate of PT Aerowisata, a hotel company which along with Merpati Nusantara Airlines is a main subsidiary of the country's flag carrier, Garuda Indonesia. Affiliated hotels and airlines will be used by the Japanese tourists

Sundah told The Jakarta Post that Indonesia is geographically too large and culturally too rich for a four-day visit by typical Japanese tourists.

"The four-day holiday in Japan makes it difficult for the tourism industry here to offer several destinations and attractions," Sundah said, adding that four days are only enough to see an overexposed area like Bali or Yogyakarta.(09)