TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Tourism Ministry believes the haze from peat land and forest fires in several regions in Indonesia will not affect the tourism sector in general.

Assistant Deputy for Southeast Asia Market Development of the Ministry Rizki Handayani Mustafa in Jakarta on Saturday said that the Ministry believes the haze will not cause a significant impact.

"We believe fears and concerns on issues of the haze will not affect Indonesia's tourism sector," Rizki said.

According to him, a lot of tourists who will visit Indonesia have been educated well in that the haze occurs only in certain places and not all destinations are affected by the haze.

Rizki said the haze issue is used as a negative propaganda for Indonesia.

Therefore, he said, the issue of smoke should be taken proportionally by the public especially by the media in the country. He also hoped all parties can build a good image of Indonesia’s tourism.

HANNI SOFIA SOEPARDI | ANTARA