Govt remains upbeat about tourism hopes

Govt remains upbeat about tourism hopes

JAKARTA (JP): The debacles which have occurred in several
parts of the country so early in the year have not deterred the
government's optimism that this year's foreign tourist arrivals
will reach the 5.4 million mark.

The Minister of Culture and Tourism I Gede Ardika said here on
Tuesday that fresh riots such as the bloody racial clash in
Sampit, Central Kalimantan, would have a minor impact on tourist
arrivals.

He said that the confidence of foreign tourists would return
within the next few months.

"We just have to work harder to convince foreigners that the
country is not all riotous," he said at a hearing with the House
of Representative's Commission V for industry and trade affairs.

Ardika said that number of tourist arrivals in January this
year was 330,094 visitors, a 12.30 percent increase from the same
period in 1999. He said that he has not yet received reports for
the February figure from the Central Bureau of Statistics.

In 2000 the country received 5.06 million foreign visitors,
slightly less than the target of 5.1 million visitors. However,
compared with the 1999 figure of 4.72 million visitors, it was a
7.12 percent increase, he said.

Ardika said that although he had not yet received any reports
of massive cancellations of foreign tourists coming to Indonesia,
he expected some might occur.

"That there may be cancellations, yes, one or two
(cancellations) are possible," he said.

However, the government does not intend to review the target
of tourist arrivals this year of 5.4 million visitors and foreign
exchange totalling about $5.3 billion, he said.

Ardika said that the government plans to restore the country's
image by intensive promotion and marketing through TV
conferences, inviting foreign journalists to visit Indonesia, and
participating in international tourism events.

At the hearing, the minister voiced his concept of building
Indonesian cultural centers in several parts of the world to
further promote tourism and culture.

The concept was warmly received by the legislators who saw
that cultural centers could be a way of increasing foreign
interest in Indonesia.

Ardika said that the concept was still very new, but for the
first stage he expected at least one cultural center per
continent.

"Maybe one each in Europe, Asia, North America, South
America ... gradually, because we have to consult with the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs which has the experience in these
areas," he said, adding that the centers would be a place for
foreigners to learn about Indonesian language and cultural
matters such as dance, food, and music.

Ardika said that the concept would be worked up in detail
within the current year so that it could be included in the 2002
State budget.

"Hopefully we could start work on the first of the cultural
centers in 2002," he added. (tnt)