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)