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)