Between meeting -- planes, trains and automobiles<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
How do you transport 60 of the most important people in Asia and
\nAfrica?<\/p>\n
Arranging safe, reliable and fitting transportation, both for
\nwithin Jakarta and for the day trip to Bandung, West Java is one
\nof the summit organizer's main responsibilities.<\/p>\n
In 1955 a total of 143 sedans, 30 taxis and 20 buses were
\nallocated for the conference. These numbers would be insufficient
\nfor the 2005 summit, given that there are five times more
\ndelegates attending.<\/p>\n
In times of \"affluence\" the government purchased brand new
\nlimousines for its esteemed guests, such as for the 1992 Non-
\nAligned Movement Summit. However, these days renting seems to be
\nthe preferred option.<\/p>\n
To transport VVIPs, organizers of the summit have rented a
\ntotal of 268 vehicles from the Indomobil Group. According to
\nreports, under the arrangement organizers will be lent the
\nvehicles free-of-charge, but will cover insurance costs for the
\nloan period.<\/p>\n
These vehicles include 60 Volvo S80, 80 Nissan X-Trail, 120
\nNissan Terrano and eight buses.<\/p>\n
This does not include other vehicles used for senior
\nofficials.<\/p>\n
No additional security devices, such as bullet-proof windows,
\nhave been installed.<\/p>\n
Indomobil believes that once the vehicles are returned after
\nthe summit and sold they will have prestige in the people's eyes
\nas they were once used by a head of state.<\/p>\n
For the one-day junket to Bandung, about 180 kilometers south
\nof Jakarta, heads of state will be flown in using a chartered
\nGaruda Indonesia airplane.<\/p>\n
Five Boeing 737-300s have been readied by the national airline
\nand outfitted to meet the needs of Sunday's special trip. The
\nusually 110 seat (16 business and 94 economy class) airplane has
\nbeen modified so that it has 32 business class seats and 60
\neconomy class ones.<\/p>\n
Garuda Indonesia has also trained experienced staff
\nspecifically for the 20 minute flight to Bandung. They include 14
\ncockpit crew, 36 cabin staff and 48 ground staff.<\/p>\n
For the carrier, the trip also commemorates their achievement
\nin transporting delegates to the 1955 conference, when Garuda
\nflew DC-3 propeller planes.<\/p>\n
Other officials will make their way to Bandung one day in
\nadvance via the popular railway route, which takes about three
\nhours.<\/p>\n
Despite calls from Bandung officials for tourists to refrain
\nfrom traveling to Bandung -- especially using the main roads of
\nthe city -- on Sunday, trains from Jakarta to the West Java
\ncapital are fully booked from Thursday to Monday. A combination
\nof the summit and the long weekend that starts on Friday may be
\none reason for the demand for tickets.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/between-meeting-planes-trains-and-automobiles-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}