ID :
9976
Fri, 06/13/2008 - 15:09
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/9976
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PRESIDENT HOPES MORE AUSTRALIAN TOURISTS TO VISIT INDONESIA
Jakarta, June 13 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government hopes more Australian tourists will come to Indonesia as security conditions in the country have become more conducive, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said.
The president spoke about the Australian tourist flow to Indonesia at a joint press conference with visiting Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, at the Merdeka Palace here on Friday.
"In terms of cooperation in the tourism sector, the number of Australian
tourists coming to Indonesia increased by 35 percent in 2007 compared to the
previous year. I hope this can be maintained," Yudhoyono said.
The president recalled the tragic incidents of terrorist bomb attacks in 2002
and 2005 which killed a number of people, including Australians.
"Since then, the governments of Australia and Indonesia have agreed not to bow
to terrorists, and to increase bilateral cooperation to ensure such incidents
will never happen again," Yudhoyono said.
He said cooperation between Indonesia and Australia was one of the best
examples of counter-terrorism cooperation.
Touching on a travel advisory urging Australians not to travel to Indonesia,
Prime Minister Rudd said the travel advisory was issued by an independent
tourism institution and the government could not interfere in the matter.
However, Rudd said bilateral cooperation in tourism was good and would be continued.
Yudhoyono said he could understand the issuance of a travel advisory but he
emphasized that security conditions in Indonesia at present were very good.
"I am saying that conditions in Indonesia are back to normal. A lot of Australian tourists now come to Bali and I hope their number will increase," he said.
Kevin Rudd is on a two-day official visit to Indonesia. On Saturday he will
travel to Nanggroe Aceh Darusalam province to visit areas devastated by the 2004 deadly tsunami.
He was in Bali in December last year to attend the United Nations Framework of Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC).
The president spoke about the Australian tourist flow to Indonesia at a joint press conference with visiting Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, at the Merdeka Palace here on Friday.
"In terms of cooperation in the tourism sector, the number of Australian
tourists coming to Indonesia increased by 35 percent in 2007 compared to the
previous year. I hope this can be maintained," Yudhoyono said.
The president recalled the tragic incidents of terrorist bomb attacks in 2002
and 2005 which killed a number of people, including Australians.
"Since then, the governments of Australia and Indonesia have agreed not to bow
to terrorists, and to increase bilateral cooperation to ensure such incidents
will never happen again," Yudhoyono said.
He said cooperation between Indonesia and Australia was one of the best
examples of counter-terrorism cooperation.
Touching on a travel advisory urging Australians not to travel to Indonesia,
Prime Minister Rudd said the travel advisory was issued by an independent
tourism institution and the government could not interfere in the matter.
However, Rudd said bilateral cooperation in tourism was good and would be continued.
Yudhoyono said he could understand the issuance of a travel advisory but he
emphasized that security conditions in Indonesia at present were very good.
"I am saying that conditions in Indonesia are back to normal. A lot of Australian tourists now come to Bali and I hope their number will increase," he said.
Kevin Rudd is on a two-day official visit to Indonesia. On Saturday he will
travel to Nanggroe Aceh Darusalam province to visit areas devastated by the 2004 deadly tsunami.
He was in Bali in December last year to attend the United Nations Framework of Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC).
