Govt intends to make Jakarta more attractive<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration plans to make Jakarta
\none of Indonesia's main tourist destinations by promoting the
\ncity as a venue for meetings, conventions and exhibitions.<\/p>\n
Head of the City Tourism Office Fauzi Bowo said yesterday that
\nJakarta was well-positioned to become a major tourist destination
\nbecause of its facilities and historical interest and the access
\nit afforded to other regions and other countries.<\/p>\n
\"The city has facilities, such as a convention building,
\nhotels and airports,\" Fauzi said.<\/p>\n
He said that the city administration was cooperating with the
\nIndonesian Tourism Commission and private companies, such as
\nairlines and professional conference organizations, to promote
\nthe city.<\/p>\n
Fauzi said that the function-oriented tourism envisaged was
\nprofitable and in line with the government's target of making
\ntourism the sector that earns the most foreign exchange by the
\nend of the seventh five-year national development plan.<\/p>\n
\"For example, if a convention charges US$1,500 per person for
\nthree-and-a-half days, every person attending will spend about
\n$400 in Jakarta,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Tourists in Jakarta currently spend about $250 per day, Fauzi
\nsaid, adding that the reason for this high figure was that hotel
\nrates were higher here than in other cities.<\/p>\n
He expressed confidence that Jakarta was able to compete with
\nother cities in Asia, such as Singapore, in hosting meetings,
\nconventions and exhibitions.<\/p>\n
\"I am sure Jakarta can compete with Singapore, even though the
\nLion City has a brand new international convention center,
\nbecause the cost of living in Singapore is higher than that in
\nJakarta,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Jakarta had another advantage, according to Fauzi: \"Our
\ncapital city has many beautiful places which can be easily
\nreached through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.\"<\/p>\n
Jakarta has several convention centers such as the Jakarta
\nHilton Convention Center and the World Trade Center, both in
\nCentral Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Fauzi said that other tourist attractions, such as museums and
\nhistorical sites, would also be on the itineraries of prospective
\nforeign visitors to Jakarta, but added that there were budgetary
\nconstraints.<\/p>\n
\"We would need a lot of funds to make those places the major
\ntourist attractions in the city and the city administration can
\nnot provide such funds. Therefore we are concentrating on other
\ntourist attractions which do not need government funding,\" Fauzi
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He criticized Indonesians who preferred to spend a great
\namount of money shopping abroad rather than in their own country,
\ndespite the fact that Jakarta was regarded by tourists from
\nMalaysia and Brunei Darussalam as a shopping paradise.<\/p>\n
Fauzi said that a major stumbling block to efforts to boost
\ntourism in the city was a shortage of competent people.<\/p>\n
\"Many Indonesians do not have the sense to give the best
\nservice to customers, as is apparent in many sectors, including
\ntaxis, hotels and shopping centers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that providing good service was very important because
\npeople took notice of others' experiences in choosing places to
\nvisit. (yns)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-intends-to-make-jakarta-more-attractive-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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