Alvin Toffler to get $33,000 for one-hour lecture

JAKARTA (JP): American futurologist Alvin Toffler will get Rp 75 million (US$33,000) to speak for an hour at a seminar in the ancient central Javanese city of Yogyakarta next week.

Experts in Indonesia, where the minimum daily wage averages about US$1.70, want to get ideas on how to develop the country's tremendous tourism potential while preserving its cultural heritage.

Organizing committee chairperson Wiendu Nuryanti said in Yogyakarta yesterday the fee did not include Toffler's return air tickets and accommodation during his stay.

Toffler, the author of best the sellers Future Shock, Third Wave and Power Shift, will be the keynote speaker at the International Conference on Tourism and Heritage Management that will be held from Oct. 28 to 30.

Wiendu said the committee originally limited the number of conference participants to 150 but because of rising demand, the number was increased to 300, each to pay US$200.

At the conference, which will be held at the Senate Hall at Gadjah Mada University, Toffler will talk for 45 minutes and allow 15 minutes for a question and answer session.

"We hope that by having world-class experts, Indonesia will have more meaningful input on how to manage its tourism and preserve its cultural heritage," Wiendu was quoted as saying by Antara.

Another prominent speaker will be Clifford Geertz, an American anthropologist, who has written several books on Javanese culture.

Indonesian government officials who will address the conference are the Minister of Tourism, Post and telecommunication, Joop Ave, and the Minister of Education and Culture, Wardiman Djojonegoro.

The program includes a tour to Borobudur Temple, the Sangiran archeological site, Mangkunegaran Palace in Surakarta and the Pabelan Islamic boarding school in Magelang. (pan)