The Bali provincial administration has allocated Rp 4 billion (US$363,000) for 80 senior high school or vocational school graduates willing to pursue an education in nursing or midwifery.

Ketut Kariyasa, head of the Provincial Legislative Council's (DPRD) Commission IV overseeing education and welfare, said the program was designed to prevent a possible shortage of able nurses and midwives in some of Bali's underdeveloped areas such as Karangasem and Buleleng regencies.

According to Kariyasa, there has been a decline in the number of able nurses and midwives willing to work in underdeveloped areas, with most preferring to work in developed regions such as Denpasar municipality or Badung regency.

"The data we've received show a worrying lack of proper nurses and midwives," Kariyasa said at the DPRD building Wednesday.

"So you can say that this program is a type of long-term investment, considering the numerous positive outcomes we could achieve in the future."

He said each student would receive a total of Rp 50 million to cover all their expenses.

"We've settled on this amount after consulting with the deans of medical schools and nursing schools in Bali," Kariyasa said.

"You can say that it is more than enough for tuition fees, accommodation and pocket money.

"Since we've come up with a target of 80 students, we've allocated Rp 4 billion. Once students are awarded a scholarship, the money will be sent directly to their schools."

He said the 80 successful recipients of the scholarships would be sent to an accredited nursing or midwifery college and receive a qualification similar to an associate degree program.

Graduates from senior high school or with a comparable educational background who hail from underdeveloped areas or from poor families and are willing to work in underdeveloped areas would be given preference for the scholarships.

Applicants must receive a recommendation letter or an approval letter from the local village chief, along with a letter stating their poverty status.

Applicants must also be willing to sign an agreement stating their commitment to work in underdeveloped areas after they graduate.

The scholarship program for nurses and midwives is included in the 2009 provincial budget.

Kariyasa said Bali had allocated a further Rp 98 billion for the state-implemented School Operational Assistance program, with billions more to trickle in as subsidy money for schools and scholarship money for students at all education levels.

He said the provincial administration had prepared Rp 1.6 billion to provide for some 800 eligible undergraduate students in state and private universities, who would each be given Rp 3 million in scholarship money.

The number of Malaysian tourists visiting Yogyakarta has risen significantly since flag carrier Malaysian Airlines introduced a direct flight in February, a tourism official said.

"Previously, Malaysian tourists had to fly through Jakarta or Bali, which takes more time and is more expensive," Yogyakarta Tourism Board chief Tazbir said Wednesday.

"The introduction of the direct flight means Malaysia has toppled Japan as the top origin of tourists."

Malaysia Airlines flies direct between Kuala Lumpur and Yogyakarta three times a week (Tuesday, Friday and Sunday)

In January, another Malaysian airline, Air Asia, started serving the Yogyakarta-Kuala Lumpur route with four flights a week. Air Asia introduced daily flights on the route in March.

Tazbir said that in 2007, before the direct route was opened, 5,424 Malaysian tourists arrived in Yogyakarta by airplane, compared with 9,287 arrivals by October this year — almost double the number.

He said that in total about 12,000 Malaysians had visited Yogyakarta so far this year, including those who did not stay overnight.

The increase in tourists visiting Yogyakarta is good news for hoteliers in the city.

The Melia Purosani Hotel, for example, has experienced an increase in the number of Malaysian tourists staying at the hotel, with Malaysians being the biggest group of foreign tourists staying at the hotel.

"About 3,000 Malaysians stayed in the hotel in 2007 while about 5,000 Malaysians stayed here by October this year," the hotel's public relations manager Dyah Retno Wikan said.

"By October, 3,500 Japanese tourists had stayed at the hotel. The next (biggest group) were European guests including those from Russia."

The tourism board is trying to open new markets by attracting tourists from Asia and Eastern Europe to offset the impact of the current global financial crisis.

"The markets in Asia and Eastern Europe are still available as the crisis has not affected Eastern Europe much," Tazbir said.

"There is an increasing trend in visits from Eastern European tourists. They have just started travel and leisure activities thanks to the improving economy in their countries."