Government forecasts tourist arrivals to pass 5 million

Government forecasts tourist arrivals to pass 5 million

JAKARTA (JP): The government says the number of foreigners
visiting Indonesia could reach between 5 and 5.5 million this
year, exceeding an initial forecast of 3.9 to 4.4 million,
provided the existing security and order is maintained.

"The first semester of 1999 showed an incredible growth of
foreign tourist arrivals, which increased by more than 10 percent
compared to the same period of 1998," Director General of Tourism
I Gede Ardika said on Monday.

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture had earlier
predicted a lower figure, based on the assumption that foreign
tourists would stay away from Indonesia because of predicted
unrest and violence in the run-up to the June general election.

Speaking after a ceremony to present five citizens with
Tourism and Culture Pioneer Awards, Ardika said that
traditionally, the second half of the year would bring more
tourists to Indonesia due to the holiday season for Europeans,
North Americans and Japanese in July, August and September.

The ministry's latest report on foreigners arriving through
Indonesia's 13 points of entry showed that 1.86 million
foreigners visited Indonesia in the first six months of 1999,
compared with 1.69 million in the corresponding period of 1998.

In June, 308,348 foreigners arrived, a 20.3 percent increase
from the previous year. The highest monthly increase this year
was in May with 22.9 percent.

The report does not provide a breakdown between foreigners
visiting for business or leisure. The figure includes the hordes
of foreign journalists who covered the June elections, and also
United Nations officials who are preparing for East Timor's
August ballot.

Bali kept its spot as the country's most favored destination,
attracting 683,083 foreigners in the first half, a 32.3 percent
increase over the same period last year, according to the report.

Jakarta saw an 18.3 percent drop in the number of foreign
visitors to 360,186 during the first six months.

Batam, a favorite weekend getaway for Singaporeans, saw a 17
percent increase in the number of foreign visitors to 606,188.

Ardika acknowledged that last week's violent ethnic clashes in
Batam would hurt the local tourist industry, but he declined to
predict the impact on the number of visitors.

Bali was not affected by the political climate in Indonesia,
attested by reconfirmations of hotel bookings by would-be
holidaymakers, he said.

The Tourism and Cultural Pioneer Awards were presented on
Monday by Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Marzuki Usman to
Suhardi of Gadjah Mada University for the utilization of cassava
for primary food; Oemi Han'in Soeseno of Gadjah Mada University
for her work in developing forestry estates in the rocky and arid
Gunung Kidul area in Central Java; Larasati Suliantoro Sulaiman
of the Mayasari Indonesia - Flower Society for her work in flower
culture and arrangement; Robby King Tjoen Ko for developing cave
tourism in Pacitan, Central Java; and to Hermanus Lainsamputty,
who makes handicraft souvenirs for tourists. (02)