JAKARTA (ILO News): The Indonesian Department of Home Affairs along with the International Labour Organization (ILO), the province of East Java and the district of Malang are signing a Letter of Intent (LoI) on Local Economic and Tourism Development to Increase the Competitiveness of the Bromo Area in the East Java Province on Tuesday, 6 October 2009, at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Jakarta.

A specific programme will be established to develop the local economy and increase the tourism potential of the regency of Malang through the elaboration of a comprehensive and integrated master planning process, including the possible adaption of the French “Vulcania” theme park.

The LoI emphasises the role of the Ministry of Home Affairs as the coordinator to gather support from other relevant departments at the central Government, the Provincial Government of East Java, the District Government of Malang and other districts to be covered by the programme. The Ministry will also take the lead to propose the programme to the National Planning Bureau based on a feasibility study conducted by the ILO. Meanwhile, the ILO will help initiate the integrated master planning.

The Department of Home Affairs and the ILO hope that such programme could contribute to the enhancement of local economic and tourism development in East Java. “The tourism potential in the Province of East Java, including the Bromo-Semeru-Tengger national park, is extraordinary. Beyond volcanoes, the development of points of interest (ecotourism, agrotourism, bird watching, etc.) would allow the creation of many tour packages that would attract tourists from Indonesia and abroad. This in turn is expected to create more jobs in the area,” said Mr Peter van Rooij, the ILO’s Deputy Director in Indonesia.

For further information please contact:

Matthieu Cognac
Chief Technical Adviser of Job Opportunities for Youth (JOY)
ILO-Jakarta
Tel. +6221 3913112 ext. 154
Email

Gita Lingga
Media Relations Officer
ILO-Jakarta
Tel. +6221 3913112 Ext. 115
Email