Marlboro to send 10 local adventurers to Utah tour
Marlboro to send 10 local adventurers to Utah tour
JAKARTA (JP): The Marlboro cigarette brand will send 10 people
from Indonesia to Utah, in the United States, to take part in an
outdoor adventure tour from Oct. 1 to Oct. 10, an event organizer
said on Wednesday.
Djohar Djoewardi, marketing services manager of PT Philip
Morris Indonesia, said the 10 adventurers will take part in four-
wheel driving, mountain biking, trail bike riding, rock climbing,
rafting along the Colorado River and will camp in the wilderness
for 10 days.
The 10 people will be included in the Marlboro Adventure Team
(MAT) and will go on a 10-day outdoor adventure trip in the
American West. They will be accompanied by other groups of 10
adventurers from different countries from Europe, Asia,
Australia, the Americas and Africa.
"The MAT is not a contest but a golden opportunity to feel the
adventure in real different and challenging terrain. That kind of
experience will never be forgotten," Djohar said.
Djohar said that the 10 people would be selected from 100
applicants throughout Indonesia. "Anybody (Indonesian citizens)
may apply but they have to fulfill the requirements from us."
Among other requirements, applicants must be at least 18 years
old, possess both car (SIM A) and motorcycle (SIM C) driver's
licenses, be mentally and physically fit, competent swimmers and
have a knowledge of the English language.
All participants are required to answer some questions and
return the form with an essay explaining why they want to
participate in the adventure trip.
Application forms and copies of driving licenses and identity
cards (KTP) can be sent to Panitia Marlboro Adventure Team, P.O.
Box 1265/JKS, not later than Aug. 21.
Participants may start registering from July 3 by obtaining
enrollment forms at MAT gear stalls in Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan,
Bandung, Yogyakarta, Ujung Pandang in South Sulawesi and Denpasar
in Bali.
"PT Philip Morris Indonesia will call and interview the best
100 participants out of an estimated 400,000 distributed
brochures and leaflets. The 50 best candidates will then be
chosen for the final selection at Jatiluhur in West Java. The
final selection will determine the 10 best participants who
possess outstanding capabilities," Djohar said.
Journalists may also take part in the MAT program. The
cigarette makers will hold the MAT Media Competition, in which 10
selected journalists will compete to win two tickets to an
adventure package tour in Bali.
MAT is an adventure event conducted by Philip Morris
International. The event originated from Germany in 1983. It grew
each year until Indonesia also sent participants to the U.S. for
the event in 1995.
Indonesia has sent 10 adventurers for the event each year
since, except 1998.
"We did not send the adventurers in 1998 because of the
economic crisis that struck Indonesia. Fortunately we will send
the adventurers this year," another Philip Morris organizer,
David Tjokro, said.
David said the estimated cost of sending the 10 adventurers to
the U.S. was Rp 4 billion.
"For one adventurer, the company will have to spend Rp 150
million, which includes air fares, meals and accommodation. Apart
from these costs, the company will have to pay the instructors
and for the hiring of the vehicles," he said.(lnt)