Empowerment, vision of Indonesian tourism

By Garimella Subramaniam

BALI (Indonesia), SEPT. 28. On the concluding day of the first Asia Pacific conference on Tourism for Persons with Disabilities, the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. I. Gde Ardika, observed that the vision of Indonesian tourism was empowerment, nation and people's economy based on religious values, conservation of environment, nation and character- building, international understanding and people's prosperity. Referring to a recent study, he said in 1997, tourism accounted for $ 26 billion gross output, 6.6 billion employees and 9.1 % of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provided employment for one out of 12.6 persons.

Estimates were that by 2007, the scenario would be something like $ 67 billion gross output, 8.5 billion employees, 10.1 % GDP and employment to one out of 11.4 persons.

A declaration adopted at the conference urged the Governments in the Asia-Pacific region, people with disabilities and their organisations, the World Tourism Organisation, the Pacific-Asia Tourism Association and the Economic and Social Commission for the Asia and Pacific to take steps to introduce universal principles to ensure equal access to transport facilities and tourism for all, initiate action to raise awareness about the rights of people with disabilities.

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Section  : International
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