3.2 MILLION TOURISTS VISIT RI IN FIRST SEMESTER

Parapat, N Sumatra, July 18 (ANTARA) - More than 3.2 million foreign tourists visited Indonesia in the first half of 2008, falling short of the target of 3.8 million, Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said.

"Until June this year, 3.2 million foreign tourists visited the country," he said in his closing address to the Lake Toba Fiesta 2008 here on Friday.

He expressed optimism the country could achieve its tourist arrival target of seven million for this year owing to the Visit Indonesia Year (VIY) 2008 program launched late last year.

He predicted the number of tourist arrivals in the second half of 2008 would be higher than in the first semester.

"Normally, the number of tourist arrivals in the second semester will exceed that in the first semester. To that end, we are determined to achieve the tourist arrival target of seven million," he said.