President declares year of aerospace

President declares year of aerospace

JAKARTA (JP): At the stroke of midnight yesterday, President Soeharto dubbed the new year the maritime and aerospace year.

In a speech broadcast nationwide, the President appealed to the nation to rekindle their maritime spirit, the daring for which their forefathers were known, and to bolster their love of aerospace.

The pronouncement was linked to Indonesia's determination to draw even more tourists to its shores this year.

"In 1996, we want to draw as many foreign tourists as possible to Indonesia. We need to invite them because, besides bringing in foreign exchange earnings that we need for our development, tourism is also important in strengthening relations between nations," the President said.

The President was flanked by State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie and Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunication Joop Ave during his brief speech.

One major event has be already planned to kinder the spirit of the year of aerospace. The government will hold an international air show, the second in Indonesia, in Jakarta in the middle of the year.

Soeharto said the basis for maritime and aerospace year was laid in 1995 when Indonesia hosted Arung Samudra 95, a highly successful international sailing race, and the successful maiden flight of the first Indonesian-designed plane, the N-250.

Tourism was featured because the 1990s have been declared the decade of tourism.

"Let's work together to grab the attention of other people so they are more fascinated to visit Indonesia. Let's work hard to conquer our sea and aerospace," Soeharto said, noting that the number of foreigners visiting Indonesia increases every year.

The just-ended 1995 was the "year of writing letters", and a continuation of the year of tourism. The post office has yet to announce whether the campaign to encourage people to take up the habit of writing letters was successful. (emb)