10,000 to walk, promote tourism
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Around 10,000 Jakartans are expected to join a mass walk on Sunday morning from City Hall to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, vice versa.
The event is organized by the Indonesian Tourism Community's (MPI) Jakarta chapter to commemorate World Tourism Day, which fell on Sept. 27.
"It is one of our efforts to recover the image of Jakarta following a bomb attack in front of the Australian Embassy," said the chapter chairwoman, Herna P. Danuningrat.
She said the campaign was also meant to raise the public's awareness on the importance of participating in the drive to promote Jakarta as a tourist destination.
"People can take part in some measures to make the city secure and clean. That will be a great help for the recovery of the business," Herna added.
The walk will be officially started by Governor Sutiyoso from City Hall on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan at 6:30 a.m. Participants will walk along Jl. Thamrin before encircling Hotel Indonesia traffic circle and finish at the Office of State Minister of Tourism and Culture on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat.
During the event, Jakartans will be able to enjoy tanjidor (native Betawi orchestra) performance accompanied with ondel- ondel (giant effigies clad in Betawi costumes).
Each participant will hold a colorful balloon during the walk. The organizer will also provide five trees, known as trees of hope, where participants can place colorful papers to express their hopes and wishes to the development of the country's tourism.
Aside from the walk, the organizer will also hold various programs at the finish line, including a dance session and a bazaar featuring street vendors with handicrafts and traditional Betawi food, such as ketupat sayur (caked rice cooked with coconut milk and served with side dishes), nasi uduk (rice steamed in coconut milk and served with side dishes) and kerak telor (pancake made of glutinous rice).
Participants will also have a chance to win two flight tickets from Jakarta-Bali-Jakarta in a lucky draw.