Tourism fair at Kuningan Square

The Kuningan Square, opposite the Mal Ambassador, will be converted into one giant fair on the weekend of Sept. 25 to Sept. 26 as South Jakarta seeks to bolster tourism in the capital.

South Jakarta municipal administration secretary Budiman Simarmata, told reporters on Tuesday that the diplomatic community in Jakarta had been invited to take part in Gebyar Wisata, as well as the parade along Jl. Dr Satrio on Sunday.

There will be a bazaar selling all kinds of products, promoting tourist destinations, and food stalls catering all kinds of local and international cuisine. There will also be cultural shows involving local and international artists.

Part of the event will be held at the nearby Mall Ambassador and the ITC Kuningan Mal.

The fair will open from 10 a.m. on Saturday, but the climax will be the official launching by Governor Sutiyoso in the evening with appearances by pop singers.

The parade of people dressed in local and national costumes of the participants, including from foreign communities in Jakarta, will be held on Sunday. A section of Jl. Dr. Satrio between Kuningan Square and Kampung Melayu will be closed to traffic.

Head of South Jakarta tourist office Nenden Dewi, said that of the 55 embassies invited to take part in the fair, 15 had responded positively, including Switzerland, East Timor, Cambodia, Peru, Suriname and Malaysia.

Budiman said the fair, to be held at the weekend immediately after the presidential election, is aimed at showing the world that Jakarta remains safe for local and international tourists.

The choice of venue could not have been more appropriate. Jakarta Marriott Hotel is opposite to Kuningan Square, which was the target of a terrorist bomb attack in August last year. Most of the perpetrators had been arrested and either tried or convicted. -- JP