Slogan introduced with 'Abang-None'

Slogan introduced with 'Abang-None'

Bambang Nurbianto, Jakarta

The announcement of Abang (Mister) and None (Miss) Jakarta 2004
on Sunday night differed from pageants of previous years, as it
coincided with the launching of a new slogan for the city, "Enjoy
Jakarta."

With the introduction of the new slogan and the selection of
Abang and None, who will act as the city's ambassadors, the
administration hopes for an influx of foreign tourists.

Amid cheering, Imam Priyono and Rizka Ismailia Puteri of
Central Jakarta were declared Abang and None at the Jakarta
Convention Center's Plenary Hall. The pair defeated 17 others
from five municipalities and the Thousand Islands regency.

The seven-member jury explored candidates' personality,
performance, communication and public relations skills, as well
as knowledge on Betawi (Jakarta ethnic) culture and tourism.

Head of the city tourism agency Aurora Tambunan said the
elected pair would become reliable tourism ambassadors for the
city, which needed serious promotion.

"I hope the new Abang-None will be our frontline tourism
campaigners. We have everything here, but we have not engaged in
serious promotion. With our new slogan, we will be more serious."

According to Aurora, the agency would use the "Enjoy Jakarta"
slogan to promote the tourist industry through various means,
including advertising, cooperation with airlines, hotels, and
restaurants, as well as special packages for tourists.

Deputy chairman of the Jakarta chapter of the Association of
Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (Asita) Jongki Adiyasa,
welcomed the administration's wish to intensify the promotion of
the tourist industry, but stressed the need to improve
facilities.

He said, it was not necessarily true that a large amount of
money would need to be forked out. For the time being, the city
administration could start with small projects, such as upgrading
the existing tourist destinations.

He said that Glodok in Central Jakarta, which is also known as
Jakarta's China town, was once a popular shopping destination.
"But, now many tourists fear going to the area due to security
concerns. I think the administration should give attention to
that problem," he told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

He said a number of heritage sites in the vicinity, such as
the Jakarta Museum, the Maritime Museum, the Outlook Tower, the
fish market and the old Sunda Kelapa port, could be integrated to
form an interesting leisure destination.

"In the long run, we expect there will be reliable
transportation connecting those areas with the Thousand Islands,"
he added.

The city tourism agency says that only 8 percent of tourists
come to the city for leisure, while 92 percent, for business.

Last year, around 1.1 million tourists visited Jakarta, while
this year the administration is targeting 1.4 million. According
to Aurora, nearly one million tourists had already visited the
city by June.