Foreign tourist arrivals up 18% to 3.43 million

NUSA DUA, Bali (JP): The number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia during the January to October period this year rose by 18 percent to around 3.43 million over the same period of 1995.

Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave said here yesterday that the tourists were estimated to have spent more than US$3.43 billion during their stay in Indonesia, an increase of 19.4 percent over the first 10 months of last year.

"Though I haven't received any report on how much the textile and garment sector will earn this year, I'm sure the total foreign exchange earned from the tourist sector will rank second after oil and gas exports," he told reporters after attending the grand opening of Nikko Hotel Bali yesterday.

The Nikko Bali was inaugurated by President Soeharto. The property is owned by PT Caterison Sukses, a private firm equally controlled by Sudwikatmono, Sigit Hardjojudanto, Harry Sapto Soepoyo, Henry Pribadi, Proyogo Pangestu, Didi Dawis and Usman Admadjaja.

Joop said the government would likely see at least 4.7 million foreign tourist arrivals this year.

The 3.43 million tourist arrivals in the January to October period this year was a bit higher than the figure of 3.42 million originally projected by the government, he said.

Between 340,000 and 361,700 foreign visitors were expected to visit Indonesia in November and between 384,300 and 405,900 in December, he said.

The country expects to earn at least $6.4 billion in revenue from between 4.78 million and 5.05 million foreign visitors this year. Last year, around 4.32 million tourists visited Indonesia, spending around $5.2 billion here.

In 1995, Indonesia's oil and gas exports totaled $10.46 billion, textiles $6.2 billion and plywood $4.99 billion.

Official data predicted that oil and gas exports would reach $10.4 billion this year, textiles $6.2 billion and plywood $5.29 billion.

In 1997, oil and gas exports are expected to reach $10.33 billion, textiles $6.3 billion, plywood $5.62 billion and the tourist sector $7.14 billion.

Grand opening

President Soeharto officially inaugurated the Nikko Hotel Bali, the first hotel to be built in the Nusa Dua Selatan tourist resort.

Among the guests attending yesterday's ceremony were Japanese Ambassador Taizo Watanabe, Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono, State Minister of Investment Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo, Minister of Mines and Energy I.B. Sudjana, Bali Governor Ida Bagus Oka, businesspeople Soedono Salim, Ciputra and Titiek Prabowo.

According to Sudwikatmono, the Nusa Dua Selatan area is expected to follow the success of the popular Nusa Dua tourist area managed by state-owned PT Bali Tourism Development Corporation.

"There are six plots in the 260-hectare Nusa Dua Selatan area. Nikko Bali is the first hotel built in this area."

He said 55 percent of the construction of the $124 million property was financed by commercial loans.

A bank syndication consisting of BNI 1946, Bank Danamon, Bank Ekspor Impor Indonesia, BII, Bank Pacific extended $68 million in loans to Caterison Sukses to construct the 395-room hotel. Construction began in October 1993, Sudwikatmono said.

"We will expand the hotel with additional 400 rooms within the next two years," he said.

Nikko Hotel Bali is managed by JAL Hotels Company Ltd., a subsidiary of Japan Airlines. (icn)