18 countries to join RI's int'l kite festival

JAKARTA (JP): To enliven the commemoration of its 50th Independence Day in August, Indonesia will host an international kite festival from June 28 through July 16.

So far, 75 people from 18 countries have confirmed their participation in the country's first international festival, project manager Sari Madjid said yesterday.

They are from United States, France, Italy, Malaysia, South Korea, Sweden, Japan, China, Colombia, German, Netherlands, Singapore, Philippines, Australia, Austria, Canada, Brunei and South Africa, Sari said.

"We have also invited participants from all the 27 provinces of Indonesia and many informal groups which often take part in kite festivals," she told reporters.

Sari declined to reveal the cost of the revelry that will be formally opened by Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja on July 1.

The festival, open to all age groups and intended to also promote tourism, will take place in five tourist destinations in the provinces.

It will take place in Jakarta's Jaya Ancol Dreamland from June 28 through July 3; in Lampung's Way Kambas and South Sumatra's Mount Krakatau from July 4 through 6; West Java's Pangandaran Beach from July 7 through 9.

In the Central Java towns of Kebumen and Yogyakarta's famous beach of Parangtritis the festival will take place from July 10 through 12 and on East Java's Mount Bromo from July 13 through 15.

A kite competition and workshop will also be held during the festival.

Chief of the Jakarta Tourism, Post and Telecommunications office Pudjo Basuki said that the government also plans a Jakarta Bay Festival from Oct. 11 through 15.

"Among foreigners, the Jakarta Bay is better known than the Seribu Islands. That's why the event is named Jakarta Bay Festival instead of Thousands Island Festival," Pudjo said.(31)