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By Kim Se-jeong
Staff Reporter
In a retrospective look at the year 2008, the Indonesian Embassy in Korea couldn't celebrate more on the enhancement of relations, especially in people-to-people exchanges.
The number of Korean tourists visiting Indonesia reached a startling 400,000, a 25-percent jump from the previous year.
``Tourism is very encouraging,'' embassy charge d' affaires Foster Gultom said during a speech at a year-end party.
Indonesia has risen to the top of the list of favorite destinations for vacationers from Korea, although the number has currently stagnated due to the global financial crisis.
The island of Bali, for example, is one of the most attractive destinations for tourists and honeymooners because of its climate, temperature, affordability and exotic atmosphere.
With regard to the record-high increase, Gultom extended a special thanks to Korean tourist agents, who attended the party, for their efforts in promoting his country.
They received warm thanks with exquisite food and traditional dance performances: ``Janji Semirang'' from Bali, ``Aduh Manis'' from West Java and ``Ngaronjeng'' of the Betawi, a native ethnic group living in the capital Jakarta.
The embassy also recognized rising trade figures. Compared to 2007 that marked $14.8 billion in bilateral trade, 2008 has gone well beyond the figure, the charge d' affaires said, anticipating it reaching a record high in the New Year.
The embassy is looking forward to a new ambassador who will arrive in February if the confirmation process goes smoothly, who will get the embassy fully functioning. It has been without a top envoy since former Ambassador Jakob Tobing left Korea in February last year.
When it comes to domestic affairs, Gultom took a note of ups and downs that Indonesians have survived. Indonesia, like Korea suffered from the Asian financial crisis in 1998 and successfully recovered.
Although a second financial crisis has again hit Indonesia a decade later, he said, the country was now in better shape to cope with the consequences and minimize the negative impacts on the lives of its citizens. Originally, 6.3 percent growth had been projected for last year, but this has been readjusted.
Last year celebrated the fourth anniversary of democracy in Indonesia. Former President Suharto, a long-time dictator, stepped down in 2004 paving the way for democratic processes, that resulted in a regional autonomy program and the first direct presidential election. In May, Indonesia anticipates its second democratic presidential election.
Longstanding tension between the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Indonesian government ended with a peace agreement in 2005, Gultom said.
skim@koreatimes.co.kr
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