Government pledges to revitalize ailing tourism sector

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Culture and Tourism I Gede Ardika said on Tuesday that he would form a cooperation forum to help revitalize the country's ailing tourism sector.

Ardika said the forum would involve representatives from related government institutions and the private sector.

"The forum will be established to ensure the continuation of the previous program despite the change in the structural formation of the ministry," he said at a media conference after officially being installed in his new post, taking over from the former state minister of arts and tourism Djaelani Hidayat.

He said he would continue with the programs carried out by his predecessor, at least until the end of the year, and eliminate the misconception that a different program would come with the change in minister.

During the Soeharto era, culture was put under the ministry of education and culture, while tourism was under the ministry of tourism, post and telecommunications.

When B.J. Habibie took over, tourism was overseen by the office of the state minister of tourism, arts and culture, while post and telecommunications were merged into the ministry of communications.

At the same event, Ardika supported his predecessor's opinion that the tourism target of 5.1 million foreign visitors entering the country would be met by the end of the year.

"I'm certain the target will be reached, especially after we show the world we can uphold democracy and manage our differences without violence," he said.

Between the period of January to July, 2.8 million foreign visitors entered the country, with 2.33 million coming through the 13 points of entry.

The 13 points of entry into Indonesia consist of airports in Jakarta, Bali, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, East Java, Central Java, West Nusa Tenggara, North Sulawesi, and South Sulawesi; sea ports in Batam, Jakarta and Riau; and a land-border crossing in Entikong, West Kalimantan. (10)