More hostels needed

More hostels needed

JAKARTA: More hostels and inexpensive domestic travel schemes
for youths are needed to encourage them to travel more throughout
the country, a cabinet minister said yesterday.

"The government is making efforts to establish the schemes,"
State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman told The
Jakarta Post after receiving Japanese Ambassador Takao Kawakami
in his office.

Hayono said more hostels should be built, especially in
eastern Indonesia, so youths would have a greater chance to learn
about the richness of the country's culture.

"Many of our youths prefer to travel abroad rather than travel
throughout the country. I think more hostels and cheaper travel
expenses would encourage them to travel the country more," he
said.

Hayono raised the idea with Kawakami who was paying him a
courtesy call. He called on the Japanese government to support
his programs. (aan)