Tourism not affected by political upheaval: Minister

JAKARTA (JP): The political upheaval in Indonesia, including recent bombings in the capital and violent clashes in Maluku, has not affected the flow of foreign visitors, State Minister of Tourism and Arts Djaelani Hidajat said on Friday.

Even the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly, which opens in Jakarta on Monday, will draw curious tourists rather than deter them, Djaelani said during a discussion organized by the Tourism Dialog Forum.

He expressed confidence hotel occupancy rates in Jakarta, which averaged 40 percent this week, would increase during the Assembly meeting.

No foreign government issued a ban or advisory against traveling to Indonesia in the wake of Tuesday's bomb attack outside the Jakarta residence of the Philippine ambassador, he said.

"They think the bombing could have happened anywhere in the world, not just in Indonesia," he said.

Another major cause for optimism is the booming tourist industry on the islands of Bali and Lombok, where hotels are reporting occupancy rates of almost 100 percent, he said.

Djaelani said he was optimistic the government's target of 5.1 million visitors in 2000 would be met.

In the first six months of 2000, two million foreigners arrived through Indonesia's 13 main entry points, and another 400,000 came through other points, bringing the total to 2.4 million, he said.

Djaelani also disclosed he had broached Garuda Indonesia about beginning twice weekly services to Amman to attract more tourists from Jordan. "Travel agencies in Jordan have assured me the flights would be fully booked."

An estimated 100,000 people from Jordan visit Indonesia each year, bringing in US$70 million in foreign exchange, Djaelani said.

Another potential future source of tourism is China, particularly when Indonesia abolishes visa requirements for Chinese visitors in 2001, he said, adding that the number of tourists from China could reach 1.3 million a year.

Also, China is expected to declare Indonesia a major tourist destination in October, he said.

Separately, organizers of the Indonesia Tourism Mart and Expo 2000, being held in Jakarta next month, announced on Friday 65 buyers from 21 countries had pledged their participation, up from 58 buyers in 1999.

The buyers come from Indonesia's traditional markets of Japan, the United States, Europe and East Asia, and potential new markets in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Hungary, Slovakia, South Africa, Egypt, China, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Brunei, the chairwoman of the Association of Indonesian Travel Agencies, Meity Robot, said.

The event, which will run from Sept. 9 to Sept. 13, will be a one-stop market offering products from at least 94 local sellers, including 12 provincial administrations.

Products on offer include packages from the airline industry, tour operators, hotel operators and from the organizers of Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE).

Meity said she hoped the event would bring in at least $10.3 million worth of contracts, a 10 percent increase from last year's $9.4 million. (10)