Restaurants urged to promote local food

JAKARTA (JP): Deputy Governor for Economic and Development Affairs Tb. M. Rais told the city's restaurant owners yesterday that local cuisine is critical to strengthening Jakarta's identity.

"It is time to start exploring the specific and traditional foods of this city and to continue improving their quality," Rais said at the opening of the second Jakarta Food Festival at Taman Lapangan Banteng, Central Jakarta.

The festival, which is being sponsored by the city administration, the National Tourism Promotion Board and the American Express Travel Related Services, is promoting Jakarta as a culinary destination.

Rais said that food sector has become the third biggest contributor to city and national revenues. "In 1994, the city's restaurants generated US$283 million from foreign tourists and Rp 818 billion ($371.81 million) from domestic ones," he said.

Specific food

But, Rais said, the city really does not have any specific food to attract tourists. "Tourists cannot find the specific foods of Jakarta but can easily spot franchised fast foods," he told reporters.

"Jakarta is promoting itself as a Meeting Incentive Convention and Exhibition place and food can help support the activities," said Fauzi Bowo, the head of the city tourism office.

He added that the city has convention centers, which can accommodate 8,000 people, as well as 71 hotels and 1,596 restaurants.

About 60 restaurants are participating in this year's festival, an increase from 39 last year.

"Out of the 60, only ten are Indonesian while last year there was no participation by local restaurants," a member of the organizing committee said.

During the festival, which will last until Nov. 30, visitors will receive 15-percent discount vouchers for their next visits while Amex card holders qualify for a 25 percent discount on their first visit.

Hundreds of guests attended the opening ceremony, during which free meals were served by 45 participants with stalls on the premises. (yns)