Bali to host tourism meeting

JAKARTA (JP): Parliament members, ministers and governors from 61 countries will meet in Bali from Sept. 24 to Sept. 27 for an international conference on tourism, a minister said yesterday.

Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave said after meeting with House Speaker Wahono that the conference is expected to produce a declaration outlining the common stands on world tourism regulations.

Joop said the conference will be attended by 175 representatives from Indonesia and 265 from other countries.

The foreign participants will include 14 tourism ministers, 61 governors, 39 representatives from international tourism organizations and 76 parliament members, including three parliament speakers from the Marshall Islands, Pakistan and Togo, he said.

The Indonesian participants will include 14 legislators and 150 regents and mayors.

Wahono is expected to open the conference, which will feature Joop, State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, Bali Governor Ida Bagus Oka, Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja, Deputy Chairman of the Investment Coordinating Board Kadarisman, Director General of Tourism Affairs Andi Mappi Sammeng and businessman Tanri Abeng as speakers. (jsk)