New tourism area planned

JAKARTA: The city administration would soon designate Banjarsari in West Cilandak subdistrict, South Jakarta, as an environmental tourism area, City Tourism Agency head Robert Silalahi said over the weekend.

Robert, who accompanied Governor Sutiyoso during a visit to the area, said that since 1996 the United Nations' Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization had designated Banjarsari as a pilot project of an environmental-friendly area.

Sutiyoso granted Rp 5 million to the residents who managed the area to make it green and clean.

The residents, led by 70-year-old women Harini, applied the four R's principle in their garbage management: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Replant.

Last month, UNESCO said the area was an environmental-friendly area. The organization and about 100 travel agent executives visited the area, which is occupied by 565 families.--JP