Youths take tourist course

Thirty youths, 21 men and nine women, from Seribu Islands, a group of islands north of Jakarta Bay, are now taking a one month tourist guide course organized by the Jakarta branch office of the State Telecommunication Company, PT Telkom.

The company spokesman, D. Sinaga, said the company had organized the course as part of the government sponsored program to alleviate the standard of living in the least developed villages.

Four subdistricts in the Seribu Islands are categorized as the least developed villages.

"We hope, through the course, that they can later apply for jobs and work at tourist resorts in the Seribu Islands," Sinaga said .

PT Telkom also has plans to install coin operated public telephones in the Seribu Islands in the near future. (has)