YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia, 26 January — By beating a traditional drum amid the playing of age-old musical instruments, Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri inaugurated the Royal ASEAN Tourism Forum 2002 and declared open the brand new Jogja Exhibition Center here yesterday morning.
Addressing a gathering of ministers, officials and buyers and sellers from the tourism industry from all over the world, Megawati said she was certain that international tourism was likely to continue to play a vital role in the economic life of Indonesia as it does in other ASEAN countries.
“Tourism helps bind our region together and encourage an appreciation of each country’s unique culture. Therefore, the role of all sectors involved in tourism becomes an impåortant and interdependent one,” she explained. Megawati spoke of “the present economic and social problems…testing Indonesia’s social fabric and justly famous tolerance and mutual respect.”
However, she said she was convinced that the “Indonesian people will overcome these challenges as they have others in the past, and rise to new heights of social and economic justice”. Megawati dwelt at length about the richness and diversity of Indonesia’s natural resources — beaches, volcanoes, tropical forests and wildlife — which are unique in the world. “As well as the natural beauty of Indonesia, visitors are also able to appreciate its extensive cultural and social legacies and to see for themselves how Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity over the centuries have all contributed to Indonesia’s archaeological heritage as well as its vibrant living culture,” Megawati added. “We recognize tourism as a key economic generator of revenue and employment for our people, especially for small enterprises. However, tourism means much more than that for all our fellow ASEAN member countries. Tourism is a significant indicator of the peaceful relations and economic progress that the ASEAN region has made over the past decades,” Megawati said. Earlier, she welcomed to Yogyakarta “colleagues from all 10 ASEAN member countries, buyers, sellers and travel media from around the world to participate in this ASEAN Tourism Forum.”
Megawati planted a sapling in the courtyard of the JEC as a memorial of her visit and the Royal ATF 2002.
Earlier, Minister of Culture and Tourism Gede Ardika said the theme of Royal ATF 2002 — ‘Nature Links and Cultural Corridors’ — underlined “the enduring economic cooperation and cultural links that ASEAN has promoted from its inception”. “The theme emphasizes that the natural wonders of ASEAN countries do not stop at man-made borders,” he added. The guests were initially welcomed by the ruler of the Special Province of Yogyakarta and also its Governor Sultan Hamengku Buwono X. He said he was glad that through this event Yogyakarta could build a supporting facility for tourism, culture and trade. “The exhibition and convention facilities that stand on four acres of land and 1.7 acres of building, were completed in less than seven months and involved hundreds of people from the local community. This facility is expected to create a new image for the tourism potential in Yogyakarta, specifically as a tourist destination for MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Exhibition),” he said.
