Government pledges to revitalize ailing tourism sector
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)