Bogor aims to boost tourism

BOGOR: The Bogor administration is eyeing collaborative ventures with other regional administrations, especially Jakarta, to boost its tourism sector.

"It's worth thinking about how to attract tourists from Jakarta to Bogor," Mayor Iswara Natanegara was quoted as saying on Saturday by Antara.

"For example, we can develop shopping tours or local snacks and delicacies as a tourist attraction ... we can start by distributing leaflets to hotels in Jakarta and Bogor."

He also expressed hope that the tourism, art and culture office would start developing Bogor's tourism potential in 2004.

Under Iswara, whose five-year term will be up next year, Bogor has held the Helaran annual art and culture festival, considered a potential tourist attraction, for four consecutive years.

"I hope the festival will continue even after I'm gone. Along with the fortnightly cultural performances, we can turn Bogor into a tourist destination and improve the welfare of our local artists," he said. -- Antara