REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Ministry of tourism continued to establish cooperation with private sector. It was in line with the government's goal to make tourism sector as a key driver of economic growth in a mid of global economic slowdown.

Minister of Tourism, Arief Yahya, revealed that in 2015, the government expected the number of tourist arrivals to Indonesia reach 10 million people. Until August 2015, tourist arrivals were already 6.3 million people. The target was believed to be achieved.

Based on data of Ministry of Tourism, the exact number of tourist arrivals until August 2015 reached 6,322,592 people. That amount showed growth of 2.71 percent over the same period in 2014, which reached 6,155,553 people.

Meanwhile, the government has taken a number of steps to increase number of foreign tourists, such as visa-free policy that has been conducted in 90 countries.

"Tourism became the fifth largest contributor of foreign exchange, amounting to Rp 140 trillion," said Arief, Friday (16/10).

He said, tourism was the largest foreign exchange after oil and gas, coal, rubber and textiles. Foreign tourism sector was targeted to contribute Rp 240 trillion in 2019.

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