Exhibition to promote tourism in Jakarta

Exhibition to promote tourism in Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration will organize a three-
day cultural and art exhibition beginning on Oct. 8 to mark the
resurgent tourist industry in Jakarta.

City tourism agency head Witjaksono Muwardi said on Monday the
exhibition would also mark the debut of Central Jakarta's Pasar
Baru as the capital's main tourist shopping center.

All of the exhibition's programs will be held in areas near
Pasar Baru -- Lapangan Banteng square, the Post Office building
on Jl. Pos, Gedung Kesenian Jakarta and Jl. Antara.

Outdoor events, including traditional children's games,
cooking demonstrations, a flower decorating exhibition, a
painting exhibition -- to be held simultaneously with an
exhibition at the Post Office building -- and live music, will be
held in Lapangan Banteng square.

The events will begin at 3 p.m. and end at 10 p.m.

Traditional Betawi (native Jakarta) performances will be
staged at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta beginning at 7 p.m. Included on
the schedule are the Betawi dance and mask festival, a
performance by a gambang kromong musical group, rebana biang and
orkes sambrah music performances and a puppet show.

Up and down Jl. Antara will be found street cafes operated by
well-known entertainers and artists. These cafes will be open
from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. over the course of the festival.

Betawi art and a traditional Chinese Barongsay performance
will be featured on the afternoon of Oct. 10, after which Jakarta
Governor Sutiyoso will inaugurate the entrance to Pasar Baru.

Pasar Baru, home to 120 shops offering a variety of
merchandise and services, is one of the city's oldest markets. It
is currently being renovated to become the city's premier
shopping area for tourists.

Deputy Governor for Economic and Financial Affairs Fauzie Alvi
Yasin said the city administration considered the exhibition an
important event to promote tourism in the capital, particularly
with the unpredictable social and political conditions in
Jakarta, highlighted by mass protests.

"Tourism is the 'stomach' of Jakarta, which lacks natural
resources for its revenue.

"Moreover, tourism is an instant commodity which requires only
a small investment, because all the infrastructure is already in
place," he said on Monday.

He suggested Jakartans work to create an environment where
demonstrations and economic activity could coexist.
"Demonstrations should not disturb economic activity." (ind)