(11/26/2001)
Despite a negative travel picture globally, Indonesia's Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. I Gede Ardika is still optimistic that the targeted 5.4 million foreign arrivals will be achieved for 2001.
According to the Minister, tourism arrivals were up 6.5% prior to the September 11 events and he hopes that following a temporary decline, the numbers would begin to right themselves by the end of the year sufficient to hit the 5 million plus mark. To achieve the original target, Indonesia will have to attract the very substantial total of 1,860,000 foreign visitors during the last 3 months of the current year.
Because of widespread rumors of "sweeping" in certain areas of Indonesia in September in combination with the decline in international travel generally, the Government claims they are taking proactive steps to publicize Indonesia's safety for foreign visitors while encouraging the national tourism industry to attend international travel exhibitions. Major foreign tour operators and members of the press are also being invited to visit Indonesia to see first-hand the very positive security situation.
Not only is the government holding fast to its target of 5.4 million foreign arrivals for this year, but still insists that 5.8 million visitors will pay Indonesia a visit in 2002.
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