Minister of Culture and Tourism Early Days

(10/25/2004)

One day after his formal installation as Indonesia's new Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik's early statements to the press give some indication of future direction for the Country's tourism industry.

• It's still unclear whether President Yudhoyono will make the department headed by Minister Jero Wacik a fully fledged department of the Government or leave it in its current status as a State Ministry. Minister Wacik has told the press that he hopes his ministry can be elevated to the status of a Government department granting it wider powers to address tourism issues.

• Minister Jero Wacik has said that his first official meetings as Minister of Culture and Tourism will be with ranking police officials across the nation, underlining the over-riding importance of providing security to encourage tourism.

• Working together with police authorities and the local tourism community, his top priority will be the establishment of a secure environment that will hasten the lifting of negative travel advisories regarding Indonesia and encourage visitors to Indonesia.

• The new Minister promises to adopt a more competitive approach to tourism promotion, emulating the promotion efforts of neighboring destinations in the region, such as Thailand and Malaysia.

• Minister Jero Wacik has also declared his intent to hold urgent meetings with tourism stakeholders to gain direct input for the goals and strategies for the first 100 day action program, as mandated by President Yudhoyono.