Yogyakarta goes on tourism road show to S'pore, KL
Yogyakarta goes on tourism road show to S'pore, KL
Malaysia, Singapore
Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post/Yogyakarta
In an effort to pitch itself as a worthwhile tourist
destination, Yogyakarta has sent a delegation to the capitals of
Singapore and Malaysia for a promotional tour.
The tour, named The Amazing Jogja Road Show Singapore-
Malaysia, was initiated to support new direct flights -- the
Yogyakarta-Singapore and Yogyakarta-Kuala Lumpur routes.
The seventy-member delegation, consisting of people in the
tourist industry, artists and local officials as well as
journalists, departed to Singapore and Malaysia for a week on May
21.
Ahead of the departure, chief of the mission Tazbir, who is
also the head of the provincial administration's Foreign
Cooperation Division said the local administration and national
flag carrier Garuda Indonesia had planned the promotion some time
ago.
"If this turns out to be a success, then it will set a good
precedent and we will use it as a standard for other promotional
programs for tourism," said Tazbir.
The province's top officials, including Yogyakarta
administration secretary Bambang S. Priyohadi and regents were
expected to join the program. Yogyakarta governor, Sultan
Hamengkubuwono X and his wife, GKR Hemas, were also scheduled to
attend the gala event at Singapore's M Hotel.
"The idea is basically selling Yogyakarta, as a tourist
destination, abroad through cultural performances," Garuda
Indonesia Yogyakarta's general manager Singgih Prawatyo said.
A number of events have been scheduled in both countries as
part of the promotional tour. A business group comprising of some
40 Indonesian travel agents, for example, is scheduled to meet
both in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur with local businesspeople
there.
The Amazing Jogja Nite, comprising a dinner, fashion show, and
concert will follow. It is on that occasion that Yogyakartan
musicians, dancers, fashion designers, and models are scheduled
to perform.
Among the performances, include a traditional dance that is a
mixture of Surakarta and Yogyakarta styles and has been
choreographed by Didik Nini Thowok's dance company.
Yogyakartan designers Afif Syakur, Nita Azhar and Ramadhani
are scheduled to present their latest designs.
While for the concert, a blend of modern and traditional music
has been prepared.
The Amazing Jogja Nite in Singapore is scheduled for May 21
while in Kuala Lumpur, for May 24. Performances will also be held
in malls and other public places.
"We do realize this effort will not instantly result in an
increased number of tourist arrivals. It is a long-term
investment that we will benefit from in a few years, if we are
successful," Singgih said.
Like many other tourism destinations in the country,
Yogyakarta fared badly in the wake of the Bali bombings.
Yogyakarta relies mostly on domestic tourists, which comprise
70 percent of incoming tourists in the province.
It is hoped that the new direct international flights will
encourage more foreign tourists to visit Yogayakarta.