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The
Target for Tourism in Indonesia
for 2003 is 4.5 Million
Jakarta – The Indonesian government
has set the target for the number of tourists
to visit Indonesia in the year 2003, at
4.5 million, with an expected input of US
$3.2 billion into the Indonesian economy.
The target was announced by Setyanto P.
Santosa, the head of the Body for the Development
of Indonesian Culture and Tourism’
in Jakarta (30/12). He is optimistic that
this target can be reached if the tourism
recovery program is carried out in a serious,
concrete manner.
“If the tourism recovery program is
unsuccessful the maximum number of tourists
visiting Indonesia will be approximately
3.8 million. If the program is successful
the number of tourists visiting Indonesia
could surpass the target and be more than
5 million.” stated Setyano P. Santosa,
the former director of Telkom Indonesia.
For the year 2002, the target set for the
number of tourists was 5.4 million, however,
due to the bomb explosion this target was
not reached. “The number of tourists
that visited Indonesia was around 4.9 million.
So, this was about 10% below the target,”
he said.
For the year 2003 it is hoped the recovery
of tourism in Indonesia will steadily increase,
while for the year 2004 it is hoped that
tourism in Indonesia will have returned
to normal. “However, we have to be
wary because during the year 2004 the federal
election will be held, which usually means
that the political situation will heat up
and can influence the number of visitors,”
stated Setyano P. Santosa.
To improve the promotion of tourism to Indonesia
in the courtiers, which are the main source
of tourism to Indonesia, the Indonesian
Government is working in cooperation with
public relations firms and has opened promotional
offices in countries such as Japan and Australia,
the two countries that send the largest
number of tourists to Bali. (dap)
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