Legislators Call for More Tourism Funding

(5/24/2004)

Commission VI of the People's Consultative Assembly (DPR-RI) have called for a major increase in the amount of government funds made available to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Saying the 2004 budget allocation of Rp. 310 billion (approximately US$ 34.4 million) was insufficient, the Chairman of Commission VI, Mr. Taufikirahman Saleh, told a recent meeting of the Ministry that he is "asking the budget to be increased from the 2004 level of Rp. 310 billion in order that the Ministry can complete its duties and achieve the targets set for it by the Government and restore the image of national culture and tourism."

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism have set a target of 5 million foreign visitors in 2004, achieving 1.03 million visitors in the first quarter of the year. Those same targets project foreign exchange proceeds from foreign visitors will equal US$ 5 billion.

Meanwhile, reflecting the Ministry's new focus on supporting and promoting domestic tourism is estimating the value of the domestic tourism business to equal Rp. 16.97 trillion (approximately US$ 1.9 billion) in 2004.