"The planned fuel oil price increase will of course have an impact on our tourism sector, thus we should use this momentum to economize on the use of energy," the minister said here on Friday.
The government plans to raise subsidized fuel oil prices in the near future.
In the meantime, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik has submitted to the House of Representatives (DPR) the government`s plan to raise the price of subsidized fuel oil to the House`s Commission VII on energy affairs.
Jero Wacik said the government had two options of oil price increase, namely an increase by Rp1,500 per liter or a fixed subsidy of Rp2,000 per liter.
He said the government would ask for the approval of the DPR over one of the two options.
The government needs to raise fuel oil prices because the world crude price is expected to hover at a high level in the future that would burden the budget.
In addition, minister Mari Elka Pangestu said her office would invite those involved in the tourism industry like the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) to call them to be economical in regard with the government`s plan to raise the subsidized fuel oil prices.
"It is a high time to implement the energy efficiency program, especially as we have had a green hotel standard that includes investment with friendly environment system," she said.
Apart from that, minister Mari Elka Pangestu admitted the subsidized fuel oil price increase will directly affect the tourism transportation.
(T.H016/B003/HAJM/S012)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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