INDONESIA EYES 20 MILLION TOURIST ARRIVALS

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi)

Jakarta, 21 Rabi’ul Awwal 1437/1 January 2016 (MINA) – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said he was optimistic that Indonesia would be able to achieve the target of 20 million tourist arrivals within the next three or four years.

“We have 10 top tourist destinations, so under whatever cirumstances is it impossible that the target of achieving 20 million would be missed,” President Jokowi said here in Raja Ampat District, West Papua, on Friday, Antara News quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

He pointed out that neighboring countries having lesser tourist attractions could attract 24 million to 27 million tourists.

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“That is easy. Raja Ampat and Labuhan Bajo, with its Komodo dragons, are already well known. Their nature is unique, and their forests are not that vast, but the vegetation is unique. Which country in the world has Komodo (but Indonesia),” he pointed out.

He affirmed that airports, piers, and ships were needed to access Raja Ampat in West Papua and Labuhan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara.

Ships are needed to access islands, otherwise the costs would be very high, he added.

However, Jokowi noted that a quota should be set on the number of tourists allowed to visit in order to protect the forests and seas from damage.

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He also mentioned that a visit to Raja Ampat would cost around Rp30 million. (T/P010/R07)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)